Karl-Anthony Towns ‘knew it wasn’t’ just another game as Knicks big brought MVP performance to Minnesota return

After a game-high 32 points and 20 rebounds Thursday in the Knicks’ 133-107 win at the Minnesota Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns was honest about what a big game against his former team meant to him.

“Got a good win for the city, place I’ve called home for nine seasons,” Towns told TNT. “This place means a lot to me and my family. Everyone was trying to make it seem like it was just another game, I knew it wasn’t, and I was happy that our team could play the way we played tonight and get the win.”

Towns, whom the Timberwolves selected with the 2015 NBA Draft’s No. 1 overall pick and developed into a four-time All-Star before an early-October trade to the Knicks, totaled 22 points and 12 rebounds in a first half where New York (17-10) buried Minnesota (14-12).

“I just let the game come to me,” Towns said. “I know everyone in the first quarter was pressing for me to shoot the ball, and was just seeing the way their defense was playing. I just didn’t want to let my emotions overcome the game, and wanted to play for the win. I wasn’t playing for myself, I was playing for the win. So first quarter, just getting my teammates going, moving the ball. I had to put a flow in our offense. I knew, the second and third, I would find myself getting going. And my teammates put me in position to success, the coaching staff did, so shout out to them. It’s all because of them we were able to get this win.”

Tom Thibodeau, who coached Towns with the Timberwolves from 2016-19 before reuniting this season, saw him prepare accordingly entering the homecoming.

“KAT’s experience has really helped him,” Thibodeau said. “He’s highly organized. So coming in, I thought the way he was in the morning, he came in early in the morning, he had great concentration, got here early tonight, so he handled all the stuff, he knew what it would be and I thought he handled it great. I thought he got a great reception from their fans, and he had obviously been a big part of the organization and the community, so it was nice to see.”

The Knicks play the Timberwolves again Jan. 17, this time at MSG.

“I’m just happy that I was able to have the game I had today,” Towns said. “I have something on my mind I won’t say.”