Likening December 3, 2024’s NBA Cup clash to that of a playoff game, Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to show the New York Knicks’ home crowd his approach to physicality. Positioned for a high-post touch after a pick-and-roll, Towns steadies himself for a heavyweight clash against Mo Wagner’s 6-foot-11, 245-pound frame. Finding this matchup to be no easy game of cat-and-mouse — or KAT-and-mouse, in this instance — Towns shakes off the visual frustration of Wagner’s strength and active hands, turning over his shoulder for a smooth turnaround bucket. The play, in some ways reminiscent of Towns’ well-known post-up photograph from a half-decade ago, again illustrated his excellence in back-to-basket situations Unbothered by the chippiness and trash talk throughout the encounter against the Orlando Magic, Towns concluded the evening with 23 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks, and two 3-pointers, maintaining a still-going streak of 14 consecutive double-doubles. Following in his mentally-tough lead, the Knicks improved to 4-0 in NBA Cup play, ultimately affording themselves a chance to play in the East’s Knockout Round. · Dec 4, 2024