Karl-Anthony Towns explodes for 44 points to shake off struggles as Knicks rally to beat Heat
MIAMI — KAT got going on Mischief Night. Facing nemesis Jimmy Butler, the center shook off issues of his opening three games by pouring in 44 points in Wednesday’s 116-107 comeback victory against the Heat. Towns shot 17-for-25 with 13 rebounds and hit two daggers in the final two minutes — a trey followed by an and-1 over Butler.Towns celebrated that second shot by flexing. Butler, who tormented Towns during and immediately after their time together as teammates in Minnesota, managed just 15 points in 37 minutes. It was the start of a four-game road trip for the Knicks (2-2) and arguably the toughest matchup with games upcoming at Detroit, Houston and Atlanta. The Knicks were struggling early Wednesday — especially Jalen Brunson — and trailed by double-digits early in the third quarter.
The turning point, whether coincidental or not, was Miami’s Nikola Jovic nailing a 3-pointer and appearing to mock Brunson’s 3-fingered hand-to-the-face celebration. The Knicks immediately launched a 30-10 run, turning a 13-point deficit following Jovic’s trey into a seven-point lead to start the final period. Towns, meanwhile, dropped 24 in the first half in his best performance, by far, as a Knick.Brunson rode the struggle bus in the first half — when he contributed just four points on 1-for-7 shooting — before resuscitating in the second and finishing with 22 points and nine assists. The result was encouraging but the Knicks are figuring things out, hoping to discover the rhythm and chemistry of last season’s finish.
Much of their clunkiness is understandable.Brunson is the only player on the roster who started more than 42 games for the Knicks last season. Tom Thibodeau has been throwing different substitution patterns on the wall, hoping something sticks.
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