– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
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DALLAS — Who knew that when Timberwolves All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns proclaimed to the assembled media after Sunday’s game, which left Minnesota one step away from elimination, that he attempts 1,500 shots a day, that he would be starting the next game of two truths and a lie. While many in the basketball world called B.S. on that statement, Towns made sure that practice made perfect, and that the Timberwolves would be playing another game in their season after finally coming through in the clutch after being found wanting for the last three games.
Towns scored 20 of his 25 poitns in the second half, including two massive threes on back-to-back possessions in the fourth that gave the Timberwolves the lead for good as they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 to avoid elimination in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Anthony Edwards had 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and he finally got the help from the other half of the Wolves’ dynamic duo to help cancel out Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the other side of the court.
Towns came in to tonight averaging just 15.0 points in three games against the Mavericks, almost seven points below his season average, while shooting 27.8 percent from the field and 3-for-22 from deep. Though he only took 13 shots from the field tonight, he exclusively attacked the basket to start and refused to settle. His first seven shots from the field cam in the paint, allowing himself to get into a rhythm in taking advantage of mismatches before stretching his game outside.
“He got himself going by going to the hoop,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said about Towns. “Played quick off the catch. Stayed confident. He didn’t really look much for his 3 until the second half. He just had his feet set. He was ready. And they were huge.”
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Tuesday afternoon’s contest, with photos taken by ALOST staff photographer Ross James. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 35 pictures in total.
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