A month after the trade, Karl-Anthony Towns looks very settled in New York

Someone asked New York coach Tom Thibodeau earlier Wednesday’s crippled what other he’s looking to get from Karl-Anthony Towns arsenic this play goes along

MIAMI -- Someone asked coach Tom Thibodeau earlier New York's crippled Wednesday what other he's looking to get from Karl-Anthony Towns arsenic this play goes along.

Thibodeau didn't sound worried.

A mates hours later, Towns showed why.

In only his 4th crippled pinch nan Knicks, Towns went chaotic — 44 points, by acold nan astir by immoderate New York subordinate successful this still-young season, starring his nine to a 116-107 triumph successful Miami.

He mightiness beryllium a cleanable fresh into nan decades-long Knicks-Heat rivalry. Towns averages 25.4 points successful his profession successful games astatine Miami, his second-highest roadworthy mean against immoderate opponent. He averages 25.8 points successful games astatine Indiana.

“The weather,” Towns told MSG Network aft nan game, erstwhile asked why he likes games successful Miami truthful much. “I was successful Minnesota. It's cold. It's basking here. I for illustration that.”

Towns, traded by Minnesota to New York arsenic camps were opening astir a period agone successful nan woody that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to nan Timberwolves, wasn't disconnected to a bad commencement to nan play by immoderate measure. His first 3 games: 12 points, 21 points and 13 points, pinch 2 double-doubles. Not eyepopping, but not bad, either.

Game 4 of his New York profession was different from nan get-go.

He had 24 by halftime, kept rolling successful nan 2nd half, was 17 of 25 from nan floor, grabbed 13 rebounds and had nan fourth-most points ever by a Knick against nan Heat successful nan 173rd crippled betwixt nan clubs. New York has won 88, Miami 85.

“I emotion his attack because he's not forcing anything,” Thibodeau said. “He's letting nan crippled travel to him. I want him to beryllium assertive and everything, but I want him to fto nan crippled travel to him. He's a very talented scorer, arsenic you saw tonight. ... He tin wounded you a batch of different ways.”

There's 78 games to go, but Towns already has an appreciation for nan Knicks and what's imaginable this season.

“They're gritty. They find a measurement to win. They ne'er quit,” Towns said. “Bringing that New York mentality each azygous night, it's thing that you admit erstwhile you get to unrecorded successful that benignant of culture.”

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