Move over Willis Reed, Bob McAdoo, you’ve got KAT company
The Statue of Liberty must smoke a victory cigar afterwards New York Knicks beat the Charlotte Hornets 119-104 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the offense with a big double-double of 35 points and 18 rebounds with five assists and two steals.
The Hornets simply had no answer for Towns, who scored 19 points in the first half to give the Knicks a comfortable lead. He didn’t let up after the break and continued to dominate, showing the versatility that made him a five-time All-Star.
In the process, he entered the lore of the team joining Walt Bellamy, Bob McAdoo and Willis Reed as the only players in Knicks history with multiple games of at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.
Towns, 30, has been impressive in his second stint in the Big Apple, averaging 22.7 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Although his shooting has dropped to a low 46.7%, he remains a legitimate threat every night.
His team mindset is also commendable. He praised Jalen Brunson after their win over the Hornets, even though he was the one starring for the Knicks.
Brunson finished with 26 points, five assists and three steals.
The Knicks improved to 14-7, including 11-1 at home. The Hornets, on the other hand, fell to 6-16, including 1-10 on the road.
The Knicks have embraced a different identity under first-year coach Mike Brown. With Towns, Brunson, Mychal Bridges and Josh Hart playing consistently and the Eastern Conference becoming more of an open race, this could be the season they get over the hump and return to the NBA Finals.
2025-12-04 04:52:00
