Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a dominant performance in his return to Minnesota, leading the New York Knicks to a 133-107 victory over the Timberwolves on Thursday night.
Towns finished with 32 points and 20 rebounds, showcasing his skills in front of a home crowd that greeted him with a loud ovation and a tribute video celebrating his nine seasons with the Timberwolves.
Mikal Bridges also contributed significantly for the Knicks, scoring 29 points. The Knicks, now 17-10, put on an offensive clinic, building a commanding 36-point lead in the third quarter. This win marked their 12th victory in the last 16 games.
Towns, traded to New York before the season, was clearly motivated from the start. The Knicks’ fast-paced offense was in full swing, with Towns helping his team to a massive 73-point first half. Julius Randle, traded to the Timberwolves in the same deal, had 24 points for Minnesota in a losing effort.
The Timberwolves, who had been on a hot streak, allowing under 92 points in their previous six wins, struggled to contain the Knicks. New York outscored Minnesota 37-8 in the first nine minutes of the second quarter, with Towns pouring in 19 of his 32 points during that stretch.
The Timberwolves were without their usual defensive intensity, as their efforts to slow down the Knicks’ offensive barrage fell short. Minnesota shot 46.1% from the field but struggled from three-point range, hitting just 17 of 42 attempts. Anthony Edwards added 17 points, but the Timberwolves were unable to recover from the Knicks’ second-quarter dominance.
New York’s balanced offense continued to shine, with Jalen Brunson contributing 14 points and six assists, while Josh Hart was scratched from the starting lineup for personal reasons. Despite his absence, the Knicks shot 51.5% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc.
On the other hand, the Timberwolves’ defense, which had been a key factor in their recent successes, faltered. Minnesota’s defense allowed 133 points, their highest total allowed this season. Rudy Gobert struggled with just three points and four rebounds in 22 minutes of play, further exacerbating the team’s defensive woes.
The Knicks’ victory was also fueled by a strong bench performance. Miles McBride scored 16 points, and Jericho Sims added six points and six rebounds. New York dominated the glass, outrebounding Minnesota 57-37 and totaling 39 assists on 50 field goals.
As for the Timberwolves, this loss ends a six-game streak of holding opponents to under 100 points. Despite Donte DiVincenzo’s 15 points off the bench and a solid 12-point effort from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Minnesota’s offense was stagnant and unable to keep up with the Knicks’ fast-paced attack.
