New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a historic stat line as he led his team to a 133-107 victory against the Timberwolves in his return to Minnesota.
Towns became the first player in NBA history to record 30-plus points, 20-plus rebounds, and five-plus threes on 100% 3-point shooting in a game, recording 32 points, 20 rebounds, and six assists while going 5-of-5 from beyond the arc.
What made the feat even more special for Towns was that he did it in the city in which he spent the first nine seasons of his career.
“This place means a lot to me and my family,” Towns told TNT’s Jared Greenberg postgame. “Everyone was trying to make it seem like it was just another game, I knew it wasn’t. … I just didn’t want to let my emotions overcome the game, and I wanted to play for the win. I wasn’t playing for myself, I was playing for the win.”
Towns was traded from Minnesota to the Knicks in the offseason for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. He’d helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference finals a season prior and had expressed his desire to remain with Minnesota following the team’s postseason elimination.
Towns declined to answer whether his performance Thursday meant more coming against his former club.
“I’m just happy that I was able to have the game I had today,” Towns said. “I have something on my mind (that) I won’t say.”
Towns was averaging 24.8 points and a career-high 13.9 rebounds while shooting a career-best 43.9% from three heading into Thursday.
The 17-10 Knicks sit third in the Eastern Conference. They next play Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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