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Karl-Anthony Towns Posts 32 Points and 20 Rebounds in Emotional Return as Knicks Defeat Timberwolves

Dec 20, 2024, 02:48 AM

Karl-Anthony Towns made an emotional return to Minneapolis on Thursday night, playing against his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, for the first time since his trade to the New York Knicks. Towns, who spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves and earned four NBA All-Star selections during his tenure, received a warm reception from the Minnesota crowd, including tribute videos and a standing ovation. "It was emotional," Towns said. "Really happy that the fans appreciate the work I gave here." On the court, Towns delivered a dominant performance, registering 32 points, 20 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting an impressive 10-of-12 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range. He had 22 points and 12 rebounds by halftime, helping the Knicks to a 22-point lead at the break. The Knicks outscored the Timberwolves 40-19 in the second quarter, fueled by a 17-2 run, and led by as much as 35 points during the game.