Knicks’ Karl Anthony-Towns On Dominant Showing vs. Wolves: This Wasn’t Just Another Game

Karl-Anthony Towns made an emphatic statement in his return to Minnesota on Thursday night, leading the Knicks to a dominant win over his former team.

In a game that was anything but ordinary, Towns posted a spectacular 32 points, 20 rebounds, and six assists, while shooting a blistering 10-of-12 from the field.

It was a performance that not only demonstrated his All-Star caliber but also underscored just how much the Knicks might have won in the trade that sent him to New York in a three-team deal just before training camp, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.

Towns, who had spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves, had nothing but respect for his old team.

“I was here nine years. That’s a long time. I called this place home,” he said after the game. “To be back here, to be able to sleep in my house one more time, it was really a nostalgic feeling.”

Despite the warm words, it was clear that Towns was determined to prove his value, and he did just that with a performance that left little doubt about his ability to carry the Knicks.

While Towns shines in New York, the trade has not worked out nearly as well for the Timberwolves.

Julius Randle, who came out firing with 15 points and three assists in the first quarter, had little impact after OG Anunoby began guarding him. Randle’s energy was palpable, especially when directing barbs toward the Knicks’ bench, but he faded down the stretch and left the arena without speaking to reporters.

Donte DiVincenzo added 15 points, but much of that came during garbage time as New York controlled the game.

As Towns put it, “The game wasn’t just another game. If anyone tells you otherwise, that’s a lie.” And after Thursday night’s dominant performance, it’s safe to say the Knicks aren’t lying about winning the trade.

• More Knicks | All coverage from Hoops Wire