New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns received a warm welcome from the Target Center crowd on Thursday night as he faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team that originally drafted him and with whom he played for the first nine seasons of his noteworthy NBA career. Towns delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 32 points, grabbing 20 rebounds, and dishing out six assists on 10-for-12 shooting, including a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, leading the Knicks to a decisive 133-107 victory.
This remarkable game made Towns the first player in NBA history to achieve the feat of scoring more than 30 points, securing over 20 rebounds, and hitting five three-pointers while shooting better than 80% from the field in a single game.
Reflecting on his return to Minnesota, Towns stated, “This place means a lot to me and my family. Everyone was trying to make it seem like it was just another game. I knew it wasn’t. I didn’t want to let my emotions overcome the game. I wasn’t playing for myself. I was playing for the win.” Despite the emotional significance of the game, he refrained from divulging any personal motivations behind his performance, saying only, “I’m just happy that I was able to have the game I had today. I have something in my mind I won’t say.”
Before the tip-off, Towns was honored with a tribute video and received a standing ovation from the Minnesota crowd, highlighting the respect and appreciation he has earned during his time with the Timberwolves. During his nearly 600 games with Minnesota, he averaged 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists while maintaining a shooting percentage of 40% from three-point range.
The Timberwolves surprised many in the offseason when they traded Towns to New York for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, and a future first-round pick just two months after he helped lead them to their first Western Conference finals appearance since 2004. Towns was reportedly taken aback by the trade, as indicated by a simple response of “…” on his social media.
The Wolves’ star Anthony Edwards acknowledged the emotional impact of the trade regarding his close friendship with Towns, stating, “I think everybody knows [Towns] is my brother. So that definitely hurts, but you know, it’s a business, so I just have to roll with it.”
As for the current season, while Minnesota has faced challenges and sits at 14-12, the Knicks are thriving at 17-10 and boast the second-best offensive rating in the league, underscoring the positive trajectory Towns is experiencing in his new environment.
This game not only showcases Towns’ exceptional talent but also marks a significant moment for both him and the Knicks as they continue to chase success in the NBA. The mutual respect between Towns and the Timberwolves fans reflects the positive connections and memories he forged during his tenure in Minnesota.