On Saturday night I walked into the Target Center, shoes still wet from the rain. The day had been a steady oscillation between heavy rain and sunshine. The teeter-totter weather perfectly represented my uneasiness entering that night’s game. The crowd was raucous, of course. A 9 p.m. Saturday start ensured that everyone had plenty of time to prepare for the game without worrying about getting up for work the next day. Underlying the ardor was a deep tension, as all in attendance knew that this could be the Wolves’ last playoff game in Minnesota. It seemed like Karl-Anthony Towns wanted to make sure that wasn’t the case from the opening tip.
Patrick Beverley drove to the hole, only to be blocked by Jaren Jackson Jr. Jarred Vanderbilt flew in to grab the rebound and found Towns open behind the three-point line. Just like that, Towns was back.
Towns was much maligned after his disappointing showing in Minnesota’s epic Game 3 collapse. On Saturday, he came out firing and clearly wanted to remind the world just how special he is. He ended the night with 33 points and 14 rebounds. Fourteen of Towns’ 33 came at the free-throw line, which for him, is an opportunity for some ritual. Beyond the tangible, strategic impact of free throws, there is something more to it for Towns.
“I just feel like free throws give me a good chance to put good energy on the ball,” he said, “whether that’s the next shot for me (or) the next shot for my teammates.”
Towns has added to his free-throw routine lately. Rather than going straight to the line, he walks almost to half-court before taking his spot behind the stripe. Clearly, he’s putting some intention into his free throw opportunities, as if he wants to put his spiritual mark on the game.
Towns had 17 shots at the charity stripe in Game 4, which gave him ample opportunity to transfer whatever positive energy, affirmations, or the like into the rock. A total of six Wolves players finished the game with double-digit scoring totals. Anthony Edwards joined Towns atop the scoring column with 24 points, and Beverley netted an impressive 17 points. Perhaps the biggest beneficiary from Towns’ positive energy he put into the ball was Jordan McLaughlin, who shot 4/4 from the 3-point line and posted 16 points.
The whole team’s efforts have been crucial this postseason, as D’Angelo Russell has struggled offensively. DLo is shooting just 30.9% from the field in the first four games against the Memphis Grizzlies. His 13.3 points per contest are a far cry from his outstanding performances against Memphis in the regular season. Simply put, DLo is struggling. Without Russell’s offense, the Wolves will have needed every ounce of positive energy on the ball.
The most glaring issue here is that the Wolves have largely succeeded on the backs of their big three all season long. Towns, Edwards, and Russell have been a potent combination, but the Wolves’ bench struggled to perform consistently. Thus far in this series, the bench has proven invaluable. Malik Beasley showed up in Game 1 with 23 points to help the Wolves steal a game in Memphis. This weekend it was McLaughlin’s turn.
Mind you, for all the spiritual and emotional power that Towns feels he can conjure at the free-throw line, the most important aspect of his 17 free-throw-night is that he was getting foul calls. For most of the season, so much of the conversation surrounding the Wolves was about the inequitable and sometimes inexplicable battle against referees. Towns has made a name for himself getting in heated verbal exchanges with officials — he is tied for third in the NBA with 16 technical fouls this season.
To be honest, I can understand his frustration. I looked at the foul calling against the Wolves by the numbers, and I didn’t really find conclusive evidence that the Wolves were indeed getting a bad whistle. But what I can say is this: I’m not sure if the “superstar whistle” is a real thing, but I can say, at least anecdotally, that it does not exist for Karl-Anthony Towns.
So, yes, Towns can use free throws to calm his mind, perform his ritual, and send out all the best vibes to his teammates. But when Towns is getting to the line, the real impact on the game is that it maximizes his offensive game. Having time to catch his breath, commune with the ball, and see the rock go through the basket is great. For Towns, though, getting to the line is a sign that he is putting pressure on the defense. It means he’s attacking aggressively, but not too aggressively. (See Game 3, in which he had three offensive fouls.)
Free throws mean that he is getting the calls he thinks he deserves, keeping his head in the game, and seeing the ball go through the basket. That good energy he sends out through the ball is in real and corporeal terms. It’s the impact his offensive game has on his teammates. Double- and triple-teaming become a lot less palatable for opponents when the target of said defensive assignments is drawing fouls and scoring at will. When Towns is cooking, it’s hard to stop the Minnesota Timberwolves.
