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Karl-Anthony Towns had every reason to keep the focus on the New York Knicks.

The Knicks had just demolished the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 on April 30, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals in one of the most lopsided playoff closeout wins in franchise history. Towns also had a major hand in it, posting his second triple-double of the series, according to the Associated Press.

But immediately after the final buzzer, Towns used part of his postgame moment to send a message to injured Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.

“Shoutout to Ant man, get better man, love,” Towns said in a video shared by ClutchPoints.

It was a short message, but it carried real weight. Towns and Edwards were former Timberwolves teammates, and Edwards is now dealing with a left knee injury as Minnesota tries to close out the Denver Nuggets in its own first-round playoff series.

For Knicks fans, the moment also showed where Towns is emotionally after a turbulent series. He is moving on with New York, but he has not lost his connection to the player who became the face of the franchise he left behind.

KAT Sent the Message Immediately After the Conclusion of Knicks-Hawks

The timing of Towns’ message stood out because it came right after one of the Knicks’ most emphatic wins of the season.

New York did not just eliminate Atlanta. The Knicks overwhelmed the Hawks, led by OG Anunoby’s 29 points and a 47-point halftime lead that set an NBA playoff record.

The win capped a dramatic turnaround after the Knicks fell behind 2-1 earlier in the series. New York won the final three games by a combined 96 points.

Towns’ role in that turnaround matters. He was not just a supporting piece in Game 6. The Knicks’ frontcourt star had a triple-double in the closeout win, giving New York another example of the version of Towns it will need in Round 2.

That is part of what made his Edwards message feel less like a throwaway line. Towns delivered it from a place of postseason success, not frustration. The Knicks had already handled their business. Towns had already contributed. Then he turned the attention, briefly, to Edwards.

Edwards’ status is a major NBA playoff storyline. He suffered a left knee injury in Game 4 against Denver after landing awkwardly while contesting a shot, and he was helped off the floor before being ruled out for the rest of the game.

Reuters later reported Edwards was ruled out for Game 6, with Minnesota holding a 3-2 series lead over the Nuggets.

That means Towns’ former team is trying to finish a defending-level opponent without its best scorer and franchise centerpiece. From the Knicks’ side, the message was a reminder of Towns’ Minnesota past arriving right as his New York chapter reached its biggest moment yet.

Knicks-Hawks Fight Could Lead to Suspension News For Knicks

The Knicks’ Game 6 win also came with one unresolved issue: Mitchell Robinson’s ejection.

Robinson and Hawks guard Dyson Daniels were both ejected in the second quarter after a scuffle broke out during New York’s massive first-half run. The Associated Press reported the fight led to offsetting technical fouls, and the ejections came with the Knicks already in total control.

The New York Post reported the incident started after Daniels pulled Robinson’s arm during an OG Anunoby free throw. Robinson confronted Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu stepped in, and players and coaches from both teams moved in as the scene escalated.

There has not been an announced suspension for Robinson as of the immediate aftermath of the game. Still, the league often reviews postseason altercations quickly, and the Knicks will have reason to monitor whether the ejection leads to any additional discipline.

That matters because Robinson is not a throwaway rotation piece for New York. He gives the Knicks size, offensive rebounding and rim protection behind Towns, and he could be especially important in a second-round series depending on whether New York draws the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers.

That does not mean Robinson will be suspended. It does mean the Knicks’ celebration may come with a short wait for league discipline news.

For now, the headline remains simple: the Knicks are moving on, Towns is playing some of his best basketball of the series, and he used the moment to send Edwards support.

New York’s next challenge will be keeping that momentum clean, and making sure a blowout fight does not cost the Knicks anything when Round 2 begins.