The Knicks received many contributions from up and down their new-look lineup during Wednesday night’s thrilling win over the Heat, but none was greater than the one from whom they received Karl-Anthony Towns.
MSG’s Mike Breen said he heard Towns say before the game that he loved playing in Miami throughout his career, and it certainly showed in this one.
After attempting just eight shots during Monday’s disappointing home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the All-Star center bounced back in a big way as he put together easily his most impressive effort of the young season.
Towns helped the Knicks keep pace with the hot-shooting Heat early when he acquired Miami’s big man. Bam Adebayo into foul trouble and knocked down five of his first eight shots for 12 first quarter points — and he just kept dominating from there.
Even as the rest of New York’s offense found its way, it was the big man who stepped up and knocked down a pair of big shots down the stretch to help them pull out the thrilling win to open the road trip.
Towns finished with a game-high 44 points on 17-of-25 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from behind the arc while hauling in 12 rebounds through 39 minutes.
“I was just aggressive there,” he said further MSG postgame. “My teammates found me in great spots. Thanks to them and the coaching staff for putting me in great spots to utilize my talent. I just wanted to repay both of their faith in me.”
Towns has had a bit of an up-and-down start in the first four games of his Knicks career, but Wednesday’s dominating effort was exactly what they envisioned when they acquired in a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After this team has been grinding out wins for the past two seasons, the New Jersey native is excited to be able to embrace that culture now — with this rivalry win being the first example of the season.
“I watched from afar, this team is cruel,” he said. “They find a way to win and they never give up. So we just bring that New York mentality every night, that’s something that when you play in it, you get to recognize and be a part of that culture.”
