NEW YORK, NY — Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a dominant performance in an emotional return to Minnesota Tuesday night, scoring 40 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, but his heroic effort wasn’t enough as the New York Knicks fell to the Timberwolves, 115–104.
Playing without key contributors Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, the Knicks leaned heavily on Towns, who spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career with the Timberwolves before being traded last year. Towns attacked early and often, scoring 14 points in the first quarter to finish the night 14-of-24 from the field while battling through consistent double teams, physical defense and foul trouble.
“Oh, you know, KAT — obviously he can score. He had 40 tonight,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said. “I said it before, he’s a walking double-double. He just has to continue to try not to pick up cheap fouls. He had a couple of cheap fouls where he led with his hand or hooked the guy, and now we have to sit him for X amount of minutes when he needs to be on the floor.”
Despite being undermanned, the Knicks showed resilience throughout the loss. New York’s second-year guard Tyler Kolek made his first career NBA start and turned in an impressive all-around performance, finishing the night with 20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. Kolek showcased his ability to run an NBA offense with confidence and poise, even amid trade rumors surrounding both himself and the team. Josh Hart added 12 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, continuing his strong play in an expanded role and further cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most versatile contributors.
The Timberwolves controlled much of the game behind Anthony Edwards, who poured in 38 points and consistently broke down the Knicks’ defense. Julius Randle added 25 points against his former team, while Rudy Gobert anchored the interior with 16 rebounds and three blocks.
Minnesota took advantage of New York’s 19 turnovers, scoring 22 points off giveaways, and built a lead that reached as many as 17 points in the second quarter. However, the Knicks responded with a strong close out to the half, cutting the deficit to five behind Towns scoring and a timely three-pointer from veteran guard Jordan Clarkson.
After Tuesday’s loss, Brown addressed the Knicks turnovers, stating, “On the road you can not turn the ball over 19 times and expect to win, you have to give Minnesota credit.”
New York opened the second half with a 17–3 run, briefly swinging momentum and pulling within striking distance. Hart’s energy and Towns’ continued aggressiveness helped the Knicks stay competitive, even as Edwards caught fire in the third quarter.
A flagrant foul assessed to Hart late in the third slowed New York’s momentum, and Minnesota capitalized in the fourth quarter behind Edwards and Randle. The Timberwolves’ defensive presence and shot-blocking proved decisive down the stretch, preventing the Knicks from completing the comeback.
New York finished with a 55–42 rebounding advantage, including 18 offensive boards, but struggled to overcome 19 turnovers and inconsistent outside shooting. The Knicks shot 41 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range.
Despite the loss, Towns reflected positively on his return, acknowledging the emotions that came with facing his former franchise while continuing to embrace his role in New York.
“It’s always good to be appreciated,” Towns said of the Minnesota fans showing love. “There’s nothing more valuable in this league, this job, than to be respected. I left my heart, my soul here in Minnesota. For the fans to just, even after two seasons away, to respect me the way they do and to think of me so highly and to appreciate what I left on the court tonight, it means a lot. It really means a lot.”
Tuesday night also went down as a revenge game for Randle against his former team.
Against his former team on Tuesday night, Julius Randle dropped 25 points with six rebounds, helping lead the Timberwolves to a 115-104 win – Image Credit: NBA
Randle signed with the Knicks as a free agent in July of 2019, and was a key contributor in the franchise’s turnaround, delivering some of the best individual seasons in team history. His aggression throughout the night made it clear he had been waiting for this moment, punctuated by a stare-down of the Knicks bench after a bucket.
Dropping to 20–9 on the season, the Knicks will look to regroup quickly as they head back home to face Cleveland at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
