MINNEAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns made a notable return to Minnesota, contributing 32 points and grabbing 20 rebounds, leading the New York Knicks to a decisive 133-107 victory over the Timberwolves on Thursday night.
Mikal Bridges aided the Knicks with 29 points as the team established a commanding lead, reaching as much as 36 points in the third quarter, marking their 12th victory in the last 16 games.
The evening was particularly special for Towns, who received a heartfelt ovation and a tribute video prior to the game, celebrating his nine-year tenure with the Timberwolves after being selected first overall in the 2015 draft.
Having been traded to New York just before the start of training camp in a deal for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, Towns showcased his enthusiasm throughout the game, particularly during a first half where the Knicks scored an impressive 73 points.
Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 24 points, but the team struggled significantly during the second quarter, getting outscored 37-8 in the first nine minutes. Notably, Towns recorded 19 points during that quarter alone, a personal high for him this season.
One of the standout moments came mid-way through the third quarter, when Towns rebounded a ball that began a fast break, and then capped it off with his fifth three-pointer, posing in front of Timberwolves coach Chris Finch after an impressive shot for an 84-59 advantage.
A key statistic from the game showed that the Timberwolves, who had won six of their previous seven matchups while limiting their opponents to 92 points or fewer in those victories, allowed more points than ever in a single game this season.
In terms of observations, for the Knicks, Josh Hart was absent from the starting lineup due to personal reasons, yet the team’s offensive prowess remained unaffected, shooting an impressive 51.5% from the field throughout the game.
For the Timberwolves, this game held emotional significance, not just for Towns but for the entire team. Unfortunately, they couldn’t rebound after the overwhelming second-quarter performance delivered by the Knicks, and their energy noticeably waned thereafter.
Looking ahead, the Knicks will take on New Orleans on Saturday, while the Timberwolves are set to host Golden State in their next outing.