Karl-Anthony Towns grew up watching Knicks games on MSG Network during his childhood as a youngster in nearby New Jersey.
Jose Alvarado had dreams of the NBA, but never thought he would ever have the privilege of donning the orange and blue threads of his hometown team.
Now, both of them are cemented in Knicks lore for the rest of their lives — and beyond — after playing huge roles in what became the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history Wednesday night.
“You said it, two kids from here, right. I’m not going to sugarcoat this: I was about to cry, not because — obviously there is one more [game to win], but I’m at Madison Square Garden, end of the fourth quarter, playing with these guys, and we’re playing for something special,” Alvarado said after his team erased a 29-point for an epic Game 4 victory.
“I was just — I was just excited,” the guard added. “It’s really something I couldn’t put in words. And like I said, we could get excited and enjoy this, but we got one more to do.”
The Knicks were dead in the water, staring at the series seemingly being tied 2-2 with Game 5 set at Frost Bank Center on Saturday night.
Towns had been relegated to the bench for most of the first half in a game the Spurs dominated from the start. Alvarado had gone scoreless in the first half as the Knicks entered the locker room down 76-49.
But the Knicks came roaring back and outlasted the Spurs, 107-106, on OG Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation.
On the Spurs’ final possession, Towns essentially iced the game by tipping Dillon Harper’s inbounds pass as time expired.
Add it to the storybook ending for a player that is one step closer to achieving the ultimate goal for his childhood team.
“I think for me, you could see my reaction, the emotion, it kind of spilled out of that moment,” said Towns, who logged 13 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes. “It was tears of joy, you know. Just it wasn’t boo-hoo or anything, just tears of joy, because like I say, all you can do is ask for a chance.
“And for me personally, I just wanted one break in life. And I got one. I got one at that last play with OG making the shot and us getting the stop. I just wanted one break in life, just one thing to go my way, one time, and I’m glad it did. I’m glad it did for us, man. God is good, man.”
Alvarado was as important as Towns down the stretch.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown relied on Alvarado with Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride mostly ineffective in Game 4.
The Brooklyn native responded.
He checked back into the game with 9:46 remaining in regulation then drained a three-pointer that bounced around every part of the rim — and backboard — 30 seconds later.
He got credited for an assist on a grenade to Towns, who nailed a fadeaway corner three-pointer with 7:28 remaining.
Nearly three minutes later, he drew the defense in by getting both feet in the paint then sprayed the ball out to Anunoby — the type of play beloved by Brown — who received a bounce pass in his pocket to make a three-pointer to cut the deficit to four.
“Jose was unbelievable tonight,” said Brown, who gave his guard a round of applause postgame. “He changed the game. His speed, his ability to touch the paint. Again, you give San Antonio a lot of credit. They are trying to throw a lot of different things against us defensively, matchup, man/zone, and if you don’t close out on Jose, as hard as he works on his shot, he’s going to make you pay. If you close out to him, he’s quick enough to go by you and he made some great basketball plays offensively tonight, and then he was great defensively.”
Alvarado followed with five more points. Each winning possession earned a roaring cheer. None of which will be forgotten by The Garden faithful that stuck around to witness one of the greatest Knicks playoff games ever.
He eventually finished with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting with two rebounds and three assists in 16 minutes off the bench.
“It’s crazy, 2026 Finals [wallpaper] behind me,” Alvarado said. “Just to be part of the journey is amazing. I appreciate, you know, coach and everybody giving me my flowers, but this is what I worked hard for, to be in moments like this and shine with it. So I’m glad it went our way today, and I’ll definitely remember this for the rest of my life. But you know, next game, this is the next game, man. We’ve got to worry about when we play over there.”
Both players recognized the moment and acknowledged their roles in the historic comeback.
Towns described it as special, and a showing MSG hasn’t experienced “in a long time.”
The two local hoopers recognized the series wasn’t over yet. But a moment so special now in Knicks history didn’t stop a bromance display at the postgame podium.
“I mean, it’s tough for me to be a Dominican talking about a Puerto Rican like this but he’s…” Towns said before Alvarado responded with “I knew that was coming.”
The Dominican center gushed about Alvarado’s ability to live “up to the moment” while playing with emotion, calling it a “rare quality.”
“He has so much to his basketball game that people don’t give credit to, and I’m glad on this stage on a night like this, he was able to show the world what he can do when he’s given a chance,” Towns added. “And Jose Alvarado clearly told everyone in the world tonight he’s a big-time player. That’s a Dominican person saying that.”
Towns showed the world he’s a big-time player on an NBA Finals stage, too.
Most importantly, it was witnessed by Knicks fans in the building — and those watching worldwide.
The duo now are part of Knicks lore forever. One more win further immortalizes them.
