MIAMI — Ahead of the game on Wednesday, Coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about his expectations for Karl-Anthony Towns as the season progresses. Thibodeau appeared unconcerned about Towns’ performance.
Just hours later, Towns demonstrated his capability impressively.
In just his fourth outing with the Knicks, he exploded for 44 points, leading the team to a 116-107 victory over the Miami Heat. This was the highest point total for any player on the Knicks so far this season.
Towns seems to thrive in the intense Knicks-Heat rivalry, averaging 25.4 points during his career in games played in Miami—his second-highest points per game on the road against any team, with Indiana being slightly higher at 25.8.
When asked by the MSG Network what he liked about playing in Miami, Towns answered, “The weather. I was in Minnesota. It’s cold. It’s hot here. I like that.”
Towns, who recently moved from Minnesota to New York in a trade that included Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, began his time with the Knicks reasonably well. His earlier games resulted in scores of 12, 21, and 13 points, along with two double-doubles—solid numbers, though not eye-catching.
However, Game 4 marked a significant change.
He scored 24 points by halftime and continued to excel in the second half, completing 17 of 25 shots from the field, accumulating 13 rebounds and achieving the fourth-highest scoring tally of any Knick against the Heat during their storied rivalry which has seen the teams meet 173 times. The Knicks now own 88 wins to the Heat’s 85.
“I love his approach because he’s not forcing anything,” commented Thibodeau. “He’s letting the game come to him. I want him to be assertive and everything, but I want him to let the game come to him. He’s a very gifted scorer, as you saw tonight. … He can hurt you a lot of different ways.”
With 78 games still remaining in the season, Towns has already begun to value playing for the Knicks and what lies ahead.
“They’re gritty. They find a way to win. They never quit,” Towns remarked. “Bringing that New York mentality every single night is something you recognize when you get to live in that kind of culture.”