In the third quarter of his new team's most complete win of the season, Karl-Anthony Towns flew to the Knicks' bench to save a missed ball from Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.
Towns quickly got back up in time to make the layup. In Monday's blowout win over the Knicks, Towns scored two of his 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.
This performance allayed the concerns of those who were concerned that Towns was listed as questionable on the injury report and during the game due to a strained left calf.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau deadpanned afterward, saying the four-time All-Star big man “should have done that.” [done] more. “
“For sure. He's not wrong. He's not wrong,” a smiling Towns said after recovering from Saturday's disappointing loss to the Jazz. “We're going to look at the tape and find ways to get better. We're never satisfied, especially me. I'm never satisfied.
“I always want to do what's best for my teammates and what's best for the city and this organization. There's always room for improvement in every game, in whatever way we do it here. I'm excited to get the win from there and I'm excited to find a way to get better.”
On a night when OG Anunoby scored a career-high 40 points and Jalen Brunson had a career-best 17 assists, the Knicks tied the franchise mark with 45 assists, but Towns was also used as the primary defender against Jokic.
The 7-footer had 22 points, seven boards and seven assists in 32 minutes, helping the three-time MVP stay well below his triple-double average.
“KAT has given us a presence,” Thibodeau said. “The problem is, look, this is the NBA. If you were a professional athlete, you'd get slammed. If you can go, go. If you're hurt, sit out.
“It's really simple. What I think is that no matter what you do, being mentally tough in the face of adversity is probably the most important thing in life. Get out there and get the job done. That's the main thing. I like that about him.”
Towns also recently became the 18th player in NBA history to make more than 1,000 3-pointers and make at least 13,000 points, 6,000 rebounds and at least 1,000 connections from long range during his 10-year career with the Timberwolves and Knicks. It became.
The New Jersey native is averaging 28.8 points, 13.1 boards, 3.4 assists and 2.8 3-point percentage in his last 13 appearances heading into Wednesday's road game against the Mavericks, while shooting 55.4 percent overall and shooting percentage It recorded 45.6%.
The last Knick to shoot at least 28 and 13 and a shooting percentage of .550 or better in 13 consecutive games was Patrick Ewing in the 1989-90 season.
Monday's game marks the first time in the Knicks' 79-year history that one player has at least 40 points (Anunoby), another player has at least 20 points and 10 assists (Brunson), and a third player has at least 30 points. It was the first time he recorded 15 assists. Rebound (Towns).
“OG was great. I don't need to say anything else,” Towns said. “That's the only word to describe it. He was unbelievable. He's on another level and it was a great day for him to rise to that level. Just the defensive side as usual. But he also showed why he's so coveted by us offensively.”
