Karl-Anthony Towns went from dud in Game 3 to stud in Game 4 to help lead the Timberwolves to a 119-118 victory Saturday night at Target Center, tying the best-of-seven series with the Memphis Grizzlies 2-2 ahead of Game 5 Tuesday night in Memphis.
Towns hit a 3-pointer 11 seconds into the game, had a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) in the first half and finished the game with 33 points and 14 rebounds. He played the final 10:21 of the fourth quarter – scoring 13 points in the quarter – to lead Minnesota’s charge in a dogfight with the Grizzlies.
“Just am here to do my job. This is what I’m supposed to do,” Towns said on ESPN after the win.
Jordan McLaughlin was an unsung hero for the Wolves on a night that D’Angelo Russell provided little offensively from the point guard position. Russell scored just 10 points, but McLaughlin blistered the net off the bench, scoring 16 points and hitting all four of his 3-point attempts.
Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 24 points in the third quarter, including three of his four threes in the game. Edwards gave Minnesota a scare earlier in the game, exiting the first quarter with a knee issue only to return a few minutes later. He was seen wearing an ice pack and riding an exercise bike to stay loose during the fourth quarter.
The win wasn’t without drama.
Late in the fourth quarter with the Wolves nursing a small lead, Towns raced for a rebound that was headed out of bounds that would’ve been Minnesota’s ball, but he grabbed it and slid out of bounds.
That gaffe was followed by a bad pass from Edwards, again giving the Grizzlies extra life, which was followed by Patrick Beverley missing two free throws, which led to Ja Morant cutting the lead to three with 37 seconds to go.
Tyus Jones missed what would’ve been the game-tying three with 10 seconds left and Edwards grabbed the rebound and hit a pair of free throws. Towns then sealed the win with two free throws with 4.4 seconds left on the clock.
Game 5 is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised locally on Bally Sports North and nationally on TNT. Game 6 is also guaranteed, and that will be back in Minneapolis Friday night.
