Karl-Anthony Towns says he sensed presence of late mother during Knicks Game 1 vs. Spurs: 'I felt like a kid'

Karl-Anthony Towns' world turned upside down in April 2020 when his beloved mother, Jacqueline, passed away at the tender age of 59.

Towns was just 24 years old at the time of his mother's passing. Now 30, Towns has continued to speak glowingly of his mother. She was at the front of his mind following his wondrous display in the Knicks' Game 1 win over the Spurs in the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.

Here's what you need to know about Towns' relationship with his mother, a connection that continues to hold firm six years after her untimely passing.

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Karl-Anthony Towns says he felt presence of late mother during Knicks Game 1 vs. Spurs

After the contest, Towns spoke candidly with "Inside the NBA" about his mindset entering into the contest. Towns explained that he was undaunted by the challenge of taking on Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in Game 1. He felt there was a higher power helping guide him: his late mother, Jacqueline.

"I felt like a kid," Towns said. "In a way I felt like I was seeing (my mom) in the stands and it was fun. It was really comforting."

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What happened to Karl-Anthony Towns' mom?

Jacqueline passed away on April 13, 2020, succumbing to complications of COVID-19. She was 59 years old.

Three weeks earlier, Towns revealed that both his parents had tested positive for the illness. While his father's condition improved in the weeks to come, Towns' mother was placed in a medically-induced coma after her symptoms worsened. She was placed on a ventilator before she died, he revealed in a video he posted to YouTube in Nov. 2020.

Towns explained that he was the one to decide to "pull the plug" on his mother.

"At that moment I pulled the plug and just let her pass," Towns said. "They told me she may be alive another hour, maybe two."

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She died laughing, Towns said, having spent her final moments sharing memories with family members remotely.

"She was sent off with laughter," a tearful Towns said in the video.

Towns was visibly emotional when his then-team, the Timberwolves, took on the Magic on Mother's Day 2021, his first without his mom.

He has continued to speak lovingly about his mother in the years since her untimely passing. He has also attempted to use his grief as an inspiration for others facing similar trials and tribulations.

"I think for me, I think if I was to say how am I coping and how am I healing from this, I'm trying to heal myself through others," Towns said.