Karl-Anthony Towns’ latest attempt seemed doomed to failure. There was no shortage of that. Starting at the circle with three players on the snout, the Minnesota pivot dove head first into the trap set by the Hornets on the last possession, his Timberwolves trailing by a small point (125-126). Countered by Leaky Black, the young winger from Charlotte, celebrated as a hero by his family, Towns returned to the locker room with his eyes down.
44 points in the first half for Towns
The North Carolina franchise, although in the depths of the Eastern Conference (13th, 10-31), had just spoiled its historic evening. While Joel Embiid recorded 70 points for Philadelphia against Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs, Karl-Anthony Towns for his part compiled 62 points, his record and that of his franchise, ultimately beaten 128-125.
The demonstration was complete, the pivot returning to the locker room with 44 units on the clock (see video above) including an 8/9 three-pointer as astonishing as the weakness of the visitors’ challenges to some of his shots. But the team of Chris Finch and Rudy Gobert (13 points at 6/6, 11 rebounds) never broke away (only five points ahead at the break, 69-64), and its defense, the best in NBA this season, seemed dormant.
62
By scoring 62 points, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded the highest total in the history of a Wolves player in a game. He himself had established the previous mark (60 units on March 14, 2022 during a victory over San Antonio 149-139).
Anthony Edwards disappointing
At 107-89 as money time approached, the matter seemed to have been concluded. But the Minnesota defense forgot to fold the match, content to pass the ball to Karl-Anthony Towns (2/10 during the last quarter) to see his record increase. Miles Bridges (28 points), Brandon Miller (27) and LaMelo Ball (18 points, 13 assists) rushed into the breach, and gradually made up the deficit.
Out of rhythm collectively, like Anthony Edwards (9 points at 3/11, 11 assists), Minnesota saw the visitors take control behind the shots of Nick Smith Jr (8 points), Terry Rozier (11) and PJ Washington (12), and the meeting slipped through his fingers.
Still leaders in the West (30-13), the Timberwolves, who have lost two matches in a row (this is only the second time this season), are closely followed by Oklahoma City (29-13), which will host Portland on Tuesday.
