Karl-Anthony Towns Dazzles NBA Fans, Leads Knicks to Win vs. Heat with Brunson Out
Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 31 at half, leading the New York Knicks to a 140-132 victory over the Miami Heat at home in NBA Cup group play as Jalen Brunson sat out with an ankle sprain.
Brunson suffered a Grade 1 sprain during Wednesday's loss to Orlando, per ESPN's Shams Charania, leaving the Knicks short-handed without their leading scorer over the last two games.
Towns filled the void, posting 39 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and a steal to guide New York to a 1–1 record in East Group C and 8–4 on the season.
Jordan Clarkson contributed 24 points with five rebounds and three assists, while Landry Shamet poured in 36 points to bolster the Knicks' offensive effort.
Miami was paced by Norman Powell, who poured in 38 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The Heat fell to 1–1 in East Group C and 7–5 overall.
Fans erupted over KAT's dominant performance with Brunson sidelined, as he led the Knicks to a convincing victory.
The Knicks carried a 10-point lead into halftime against the Heat, fueled by 31 points from Towns on 11-of-16 shooting, including 60 percent from three. The rest of the starting lineup combined for 16 points.
New York held a six-point edge entering the fourth quarter, and their offense pushed through to extend the lead.
Late-game attempts by the Heat to mount a comeback were stifled, as a pair of clutch free throws and a critical defensive rebound from Towns pushed the lead to 10 points and paved the way to victory.
The Knicks will face Charlotte on the road in their next NBA Cup game on Nov. 26, kicking off a five-game road trip with a matchup in Miami on Monday.
