Last night’s game at Target Center in Minnesota between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks will be remembered as Karl-Anthony Towns‘ first game against his former team – the team that drafted him with the 1st overall pick in 2015, where he won Rookie of the Year, became a 4 NBA All-Star, and could arguably be considered one of the top 5 players in franchise history for his impressive 9 years there. Just days before the start of the season, Towns was part of a 3-team trade involving the Timberwolves, Hornets and Knicks, who essentially traded Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo for KAT. So far in this young season, the Knicks seem to have gotten the better end of the trade, but only time will tell who “won” the deal, which I personally see as a win-win.
Security Staff Saves the Day with NFL-Level Tackle
While Towns’ “revenge” night was a complete success-he finished as the game’s leading scorer with 32 points, along with 20 rebounds-it was also noteworthy that KAT was the only Knicks starter still on the court in the fourth quarter, when the Knicks were up by more than 30 points. Sending a message, perhaps? But his performance wasn’t the most attention-grabbing part of a boring game that ended before halftime with the Knicks in control from the start. With 2:34 left in the first half, two women ran onto the court right behind KAT. However, a security guard did an excellent job tackling one of the fans NFL linebacker style.
They were later removed like garbage bags, carried off the court by their feet and hands. The reason for their attempt to storm the court is still unknown. It could have been to send a message, as these acts are often meant to draw attention to movements or causes they feel deserve more attention – most often environmental causes. It’s also December, and Minnesota’s frigid temperatures this time of year are as predictable as taxes. Their attire – shorts, sleeveless tops, and headbands – makes me think they might have just done it for fun. Still, it’s hard to believe someone would risk being banned from the Target Center, probably for the rest of the season, for something so trivial.
Can the Knicks Break Their 30-Year Finals Drought?
Last year, the Timberwolves made it to the conference finals for the first time in 20 years, and it seemed like they could do the same this year or even go to the finals. However, while I think Julius Randle is an excellent player, I don’t think he has the same offensive impact as Towns, although I do think Randle is better on the defensive end. As for the Knicks, who have made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals two years in a row, they have the potential to go far if they can avoid injuries. Their starting lineup is as solid as any on both ends of the floor. However, the Knicks haven’t been to the Finals in nearly 30 years.
