MINNEAPOLIS — After a lackluster outing in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ loss in Game 3, Karl-Anthony Towns responded with a productive performance in Minnesota’s 119-118 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4 on Saturday night. The best-of-seven series is now set at 2:2.
Towns, a three-time All-Star and the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, has struggled in the previous two games, both Minnesota losses. In Games 2 and 3, he committed 10 personal fouls but only scored seven field goals when the Grizzlies threw several defenders at him at half-court.
“A lot of anger,” Towns said of his mood in Game 4. “Trying to find ways to dominate regardless of what they’re throwing [at me] – Double, triple, quadruple, coach come on the court and guard me too – and find ways to put the ball in the bucket.
Towns responded with 33 points and 14 rebounds, joining Kevin Garnett as the only Timberwolves player to record a 30-on-10 playoff game. As one of the NBA’s most versatile offensive big men, Towns showcased his full repertoire. He thrived in the pick-and-roll, drove as an isolation goalscorer against overwhelmed Memphis big defenders, and even came off screens as a long-distance scorer. He scored an efficient 1.43 points per possession.
“He was angry,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said of Town’s attitude before the contest. “He was really good from the start: aggressive, putting pressure on them, making them whistle, getting to the free-throw line, things he hadn’t done much in the last couple of games.”
Towns lived at the free-throw line Saturday and challenged the Grizzlies’ defense en route to the basket. He sank 14 of his 17 free throw attempts and credited much of his overall success in Game 4 to his performance at the stripe.
“It gives me free shots on the edge,” Towns said. “It gives me a good basketball feeling. It gives me a good rhythm. More importantly for me personally, it allows me to calm down.”
Among those free throws was the pair that froze the game for the Timberwolves and put them ahead with four 4.4 seconds remaining. Towns, a career shooter with an 83.3% free throw rate, said he was infinitely confident he would get the last shot.
“I knew it was good – the game was over,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to eat.”
Afterwards, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant praised Towns’ efforts given his poor performance in Minnesota’s historic Game 3 collapse.
“KAT responded as a superstar should,” Morant said.
Morant, who scored just 11 points in 4-for-13 shooting from the field – accompanied by 16 assists – will have an opportunity to answer for himself in Game 5 in Memphis Tuesday night.