Karl-Anthony Towns just put in the performance of a lifetime against the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA has seen a lot of players score 50 points in the last 10 days. LeBron James (x2), Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, and Kevin Durant come to mind instantly. However, Karl-Anthony Towns just bettered all of them by having the first 60-point performance of the season.
KAT broke the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise record of 56 points (set by him) in this game, while also setting a new season-high. The 2015 first overall pick also set the season-high for most points in a quarter with his 32-point barrage in the third quarter. This was the first 30-point quarter since Kevin Love did it for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and just the fourth in the last 20 years.
Twitter was in complete awe of the big man who has had a very hard couple of seasons. From on-court turmoil to personal turmoil, KAT has persevered through it all as the Timberwolves look to make their second playoff appearance since 2004. Fans were just as appreciative of Towns’ performance on Twitter.
KAT tonight:
60 PTS (franchise record)
17 REB
19-31 FG
7-11 3P
He joins Shaq and Wilt as the only centers in NBA history with a 60/15 game. pic.twitter.com/BCsLobl51O
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 15, 2022
The Timberwolves single-game scoring record:
56 — KAT in 2018
56 — KAT in 3 quarters tonight pic.twitter.com/UBQcog2SQI
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 15, 2022
KAT dropped a hot 60. pic.twitter.com/szPvWuIQci
— nba paint (@nba_paint) March 15, 2022
While Jokic and Embiid playing , KAT dropping 56 in 3 quarters . Gotta love the NBA lol
— SWISHOUT (@swishout) March 15, 2022
I’m so happy for KAT, he deserves this
60 points, a franchise record
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) March 15, 2022
Wanted Kat to go for 70
— Dom2K 🎅🎇 (@Dom_2k) March 15, 2022
KAT wilding 🔥🔥
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) March 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/yrnevan_/status/1503558192994963457
60 points for KAT. Give him the love he deserves. pic.twitter.com/rJvMepf3uZ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 15, 2022
KAT's postgame interview, he knew he was getting drenched pic.twitter.com/j7kz41K305
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) March 15, 2022
The Timberwolves are 40-30 with this win and will be closely watching the game between the Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks. The Timberwolves are three games behind the fourth seed in the West but currently find themselves in the play-in tournament as the seventh seed.
The teams in front of them are the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks, who are both coming off wins right now. The Jazz losing will tie them with the Mavericks record-wise, leaving the Nuggets as the team with a lot of pressure to stave off the surging Wolves.
KAT is playing at an elite level and the team has coalesced around the young core and coach Chris Finch. A playoff berth would mean a lot to the franchise, who most definitely deserve to play in the post-season.
