Glass cleaner: Karl-Anthony Towns dislodges ball behind backboard after Andre Drummond can't

NEW YORK (AP) — When the ball got stuck behind the basket in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Wednesday night, the New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns proved that if you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself.

The 76ers' Andre Drummond failed on a few attempts to dislodge the ball, drawing loud boos from the crowd at Madison Square Garden. Towns then took over and did it himself on the first try, getting raucous cheers from fans — including actor Timothée Chalamet.

“It seemed like they were struggling. I wanted to get the game going, man,” Towns said. “I already had a hot hand, so I didn’t know what was going on.”

Towns had just been fouled and the ball got stuck between the backboard and what appeared to be camera equipment mounted to the back of it. With the stick end of the broom that's used to clean the court, Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey first tried to move the ball before realizing a taller man was needed.

Drummond was unable to finish the job, so Towns — who had been waiting at the free-throw line to get the ball so he could shoot — eventually left his spot to get it himself.

Towns said he didn't say anything to Drummond but did share a laugh with Maxey, who also played for John Calipari at Kentucky.

“Because he walked up to me and I was like, ‘I went to Kentucky longer than you.’ So I have a little more experience, you know, with the geometry and all that that comes with getting the ball off of that,” Towns said. “So, shout out to Cal and the amazing teachers we had in Kentucky. Taught me well.”

A few minutes later, the ball got stuck in the exact same spot. A fan shooting for $75,000 from halfcourt launched his heave over the backboard and it landed there.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after giving a foul during the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) fights for control of the ball with Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) during the first half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after giving a foul during the first half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — In what Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro called “a no-brainer,” the Royals pulled left-hander Cole Ragans after three scoreless innings in his start against Cleveland on Wednesday night because of left triceps and elbow soreness.

“It’s routine for (pitching coach) Brian (Sweeney) to talk to the pitchers between every inning,” Quatraro said. “If somebody brings something up like that, it's a no brainer.”

Luinder Avila started warming up in the bottom of the third and entered to start the fourth. Avila (0-2) took the loss in a 3-1 decision that snapped the Royals' five-game winning streak.

Ragans, 28, allowed one hit, walked two and struck out four, throwing 58 pitches. He is 1-4 with a 4.84 ERA. this season.

He said he started feeling the discomfort during the third inning.

“It just started to get a little tight,” Ragans said. “I talked to Sweeney, and figured that was the best decision.”

Ragans had Tommy John surgery in March 2018 while in the Texas minor league system, then tore the grafted ligament during his rehabilitation and had a second Tommy John surgery in May 2019. He returned to the major leagues in August 2022.

He said this discomfort was nothing like what he experienced previously.

"I know what I’ve been through, the elbow stuff. I know it’s not what I’ve been through before,” he said.

He was traded to Kansas City in August 2023 and became a first-time All-Star in 2024, going 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts. He was sidelined between June 5 and Sept. 17 last year because of a strained left rotator cuff.

He walked two batters in the first inning and escaped the two-on, one-out trouble by striking out Rhys Hoskins and David Fry.

Quatraro seemed optimistic that the injury was not serious.

“He just started having some tightness (or) soreness in the back of the elbow/triceps area,” he said. “So (we were) just trying to be cautious and get him out of there.

"We’ll get some more evaluations tomorrow and see what we have. We don’t think it’s serious. We’re hopeful for the next start, and we’ll just see where he is after we evaluate it tomorrow.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)