Near his home in New York, Karl-Anthony Towns returned the winning basket for his team, a 2+1 with 29 seconds remaining for a 112-110 success, the second in a row, and the 6th in 8 outings. The Wolves return to 50% of victories (22-22) while the Knicks go back below (22-23).
In front of his family, KAT compiled 20 points at 6/12 including 2/4 from afar, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, well helped by Anthony Edwards, author of 21 points at 8/17 while D’Angelo Russell added 17 points to 5/11 including 4/8 behind the arc. The Wolves shoot at only 43.2% including 13/41 behind the arc, but cause 18 loose balls from the Knicks. The latter were led by an excellent Evan Fournier, author of 27 points at 10/17 including 5/10 behind the arc while Julius Randle added 21 points at 6/15, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 blocks, RJ Barrett 17 points at 6/16 and Kemba Walker 19 points at 4/8 at 3-pts, including 17 points after the break.
Towns scored 11 points in the first quarter to allow his team to take the lead 30-23 after 12 minutes and even have a 12-point lead in the second quarter, to return to the locker room with a mattress of 10 points, 61-51. But on returning from the locker room the match changed. The Knicks started the second and planted 40 points in the third act to reverse the momentum and take control 91-86.
The locals led the majority of the last quarter with in particular 3 shots at 3-points in a row from Kemba Walker, who put his team in an ideal position 107-102 with 3’41 remaining. But the Wolves no longer conceded a single basket and forced the Knicks to key loose balls. The visitors notably recovered a ball after a video call 48 seconds from time. Towns made a move against Randle with the fault to take the lead 111-109. Randle was sent to the throw line and returned only one attempt, the same for Patrick Beverley in stride. Alec Burks then had the match point at 3-pts, missed.
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