INDIANAPOLIS – During the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s All-Star Game, Karl-Anthony glanced over at the bench to see teammate Anthony Edwards waving at him and saying “44.”
Towns was on pace to score 50 points in his fourth All-Star appearance. Given that no one was playing defense in a game the East won 211-186 (that’s right, 211 points), it was only a matter of time before Towns reached 50.
With just over 40 seconds left, Towns turned around and scored a three-pointer from the top of the key. That went down and his Western Conference teammates stood up to give him some props.
“It’s still Ant,” Towns said. “…He was breaking down points for me on the bench. I knew it was something special because even Steph (Stephen Curry) stood up and said, ‘Get 50. Get 50.'”
Yes, the defense was nowhere to be found and debate took over NBA social media about how to make the All-Star Game more competitive, or if it was redeemable at all, after another glorified cardio session took place Sunday. But the moment was still cool for Towns, one he appreciated after last year, when he missed most of the season with a calf injury.
“I just wanted to cherish this moment and make the most of it,” Towns said. “I didn’t know it would be 50 years. I thought maybe it would be more like 15 years. God was good and he was lucky to be in this situation.”
Towns was 23 of 35 from the field as his teammates fed him the ball in the second half to help him get that mark, which was just shy of Jayson Tatum’s record of 55 last year.
Even Towns acknowledged that if he had gotten the record, it might not have meant much given the quality of play on display.
“I was saying after the match, I don’t know if I would have broken the record, would it really have mattered?” Cities said. “I don’t know if the value would have been the same. But I’m just happy, lucky to be able to have a record, to score 50 in the All-Star Game. I’m honored and blessed and I don’t can’t be happy enough to be able to represent my organization like that.
Towns scored 62 points in a game earlier this year, a game that the Wolves love against Charlotte by taking a big lead in the second half. After, coach Chris Finch called it a “disgusting” sight. basketball. Finch was the coach of the Western Conference All-Stars and said with a laugh after the game, “I don’t have a postgame meltdown anymore.”
Edwards was only a minor participant in Sunday’s game as he wanted to relieve a knee soreness that was bothering him before the break. Edwards finished with just four points in 13 minutes and didn’t throw his left-handed jumper like he said he would. He had a big smile on his face as he talked about the night Towns had.
“It made me happy, man,” Edwards said. “Seeing KAT happy, I think it makes everyone happy. The whole bench was smiling. I’m super happy for him. He’s a great guy, man, off the court. Not just a great basketball player, a great person . Super exciting to play alongside him.”
Towns didn’t get the MVP award, in part because the West didn’t win the game. That went to Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard, who also beat Towns in the three-point contest on Saturday. Lillard finished with 39 for the East. Towns was able to get 50 in part because the game never became competitive at any point, not even in the final minutes, as it tends to do even in this era of the All-Star Game where scores are swollen and defenseless.
East had already built a lead of over 20 in the fourth quarter, which meant no one focused on defending at any point throughout the night. But that also meant Towns had relatively clear lanes to the basket on a night when his threes weren’t really clicking (4-for-13).
“It was because of my teammates,” Towns said. “Tonight, my teammates kept finding me and passing the ball to me. So I was just trying to take advantage of that opportunity and take a few shots. I didn’t do much. I would have wish I could do a little more, but beggars can’t be picky on a night like this.”
It was a special night for the Wolves as Finch, Edwards and Towns were the first three introduced. For Finch, he was able to coach near one of his idols, 76ers legend Julius Erving, who sat near the bench in the Western Conference. Finch, who grew up in eastern Pennsylvania as a 76ers fan, said he took the time to take a photo with Erving.
“I’ve been in the league for a while, and I’ve been to events with him and I’ve never really asked him for a photo or even really taken a moment to introduce myself, but I couldn’t really let that go ” said Finch.
For Edwards, he had the chance to play with his childhood idol, Kevin Durant.
“It’s awesome, man,” Edwards said Saturday. “He’s my favorite player of all time. Being with him, talking to him, it’s even a dream come true, because watching him on TV and playing with him in the game (NBA 2K), it’s mad.”
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There were moments to savor all around for the Wolves in this All-Star Game, one that will likely be viewed by the general public as another forgettable one in a recent trend of less-than-stellar games. But for the Wolves who were there, and especially for Towns, it was a night they won’t soon forget.
“It was amazing to be able to be in this position after everything that happened to me last year, the injuries and everything,” Towns said. “In life, you learn even more to appreciate and cherish the moments and opportunities that are given to you.”
