SUMMARY
- Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a remarkable performance, scoring a career-high 62 points in a single game for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- Towns started the game with exceptional form, scoring an impressive 44 points in the first half, including eight straight 3-pointers.
- The game's ending was marked by controversy, with claims of a missed foul during Towns' potential game-winning layup.
Minnesota Timberwolves star player Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a career-high performance, scoring 62 points in a single game at the Target Center. This career high of Towns also sets a franchise record for the Timberwolves. Despite Towns’ best efforts, the Timberwolves faced a disappointing loss against the Charlotte Hornets, with a close score of 128-125.
Towns started the game with outstanding form, scoring an impressive 44 points in the first half with eight straight 3-pointers. His 44-point performance set a league record for the most points scored in the first half since the 1996-97 season. Towns missed only three shots before halftime.
A HISTORIC 44-POINT HALF FROM KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS 🤯
🔥 44 PTS
🔥 14-17 FGM
🔥 8-9 3PMThe 4th most points scored in a half in the play-by-play era (1997-98).
Hornets-Timberwolves | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/MUIzaNNsLN pic.twitter.com/bebBEw09Uz— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2024
The Timberwolves scoring led by Towns, finished the third quarter with a 15-point lead. By this time, Towns himself had scored 58 points. However, in the final quarter, the Hornets turned things around. Despite Towns matching his career-high with a right-handed hook shot early in the fourth, he missed his next four shots, which gave the Charlotte Hornets a chance to make a comeback.
The Hornets, led by Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller, were able to close the early gap. Nick Smith retook the lead for the Hornets with the help of a corner three-pointer. The game’s ending was marked by controversy as Towns’ potential game-winning layup came into question, leading to claims of a missed foul.
Despite the loss, Towns’ made noticeable records. He became the first player in league history to record at least 10 made 3-pointers, 2-pointers, and free throws in the same game. He also set a new franchise record for points in a half and field goals made.
Karl-Anthony Towns’ second-highest scoring game was against the San Antonio Spurs
Before his record-breaking 62-point game, Karl-Anthony Towns had previously set his career-high against the San Antonio Spurs on March 14, 2022. In this game, Towns scored 60 points, leading the Timberwolves to win with a final score of 149-139. This performance was the highest-scoring in the NBA for the 2022 season until it was matched by Kyrie Irving the next day.
Towns’ performance against the Spurs displayed his shooting skills. He shot 19-for-31 from the field, including a 7-for-11 performance from beyond the arc. He also finished with 17 rebounds. His 60 points surpassed his previous career-best of 56 points, which was also the franchise record until this game.
In this game, Towns became the first NBA player to reach 60 points, 15 rebounds, and 60% accuracy from the 3-point line in a single game. With this achievement, he joined the list of legends like Shaquille O’Neal and Wilt Chamberlain, who have scored 60 points in a game.