Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns stacks double-doubles as contract standoff lingers

Karl-Anthony Towns has no new contract, and through eight games that has not shown up in his play. Towns has posted a double-double in every game for the defending champions, the New York Post reports, and he has been the most reliable piece of a Knicks team that has opened 4-4.

His line reads 19.9 points, a career-high 13.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists, with a career-best 42.9 percent from three on 4.4 attempts a night. His plus-9.0 net rating is the best among New York's starters, and his 33.3 defensive rebounding percentage leads the team. Towns told the Post that Mitchell Robinson's departure left a gap on the glass he felt he had to fill. Mike Brown praised his energy and communication but named two things to clean up: pick-and-roll defense and turnovers. Towns is giving the ball away 3.8 times a game, up from 2.5 last season, partly because the offense now runs through him more often.

The backdrop has not changed. The Knicks paused all extension talks until "later in the season" in early October, Yahoo Sports reported, with Josh Hart also left waiting. Yahoo reported the club's offer at four years and $200 million, more than $75 million below Towns' max. Brett Siegel, as cited by The Sporting News, put Towns' asking price at $225 million to $240 million over four years. At media day, Towns told ESPN he wanted to stay in New York. He averaged 15.9 points and 10.6 rebounds during last spring's title run.

For now, Towns is talking about the team rather than his deal. "I can't allow outside distractions and ego to get in the way," he told the Post, describing himself and Jalen Brunson as the pair charged with leading the group.

What it means in Cleveland

The Knicks need Towns' steadiness to turn a .500 start into a run. They have won three of four, the last two by a combined 43 points: a 103-90 win over Brooklyn and a 135-105 rout of Chicago. That stretch followed a 1-3 opening against Philadelphia, Boston and Orlando, with every loss decided by single digits. Saturday's game at Cleveland (NBA TV) is the toughest road test of the young season. The Cavaliers' frontcourt will push Towns on the glass and test Brown's concerns about his pick-and-roll coverage.

The board for the game has New York favored on the road. Novig, one of 12 venues listed, prices the Knicks at -182 on the moneyline and Cleveland at +174. On the spread, the Knicks are favored by 4.5 points at -108 on Novig. The best number anywhere for Cleveland is theScore Bet's +5.5 at -115, a full point more than Novig's +4.5 at +104. The total sits at 223.5 on Novig, with the under at +102. DraftKings has the highest total at 225.5, with the under at -114. That two-point gap is the widest difference between venues on the board. Sportsbook hold runs from 2.4 percent to 5.5 percent across the markets.

If Towns adds another double-double and keeps his turnovers down, the Knicks have a good chance to get above .500 for the first time this season.