Grading Karl-Anthony Towns’ Knicks debut: Analyzing New York star’s stats in blowout loss to Celtics | Sporting News

Weeks before the 2024-25 NBA season began, the Knicks shook the NBA with a big-swing move to acquire four-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns in a blockbuster trade with the Timberwolves.

On opening night, Towns took the floor for his first game with the Knicks, a tilt with the defending champion Celtics. With all eyes on the proceedings at Boston’s TD Garden, fans caught their first glimpse of how Towns fits within New York’s plan to dethrone the champs.

In 24 minutes of action, Towns finished with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, seven rebounds and three assists. To say his debut was spoiled would be putting it mildly as the Knicks suffered a 23-point loss.

With several injuries decimating the Knicks’ roster, this game shouldn’t give much indication of what to expect in the bigger picture, but it does give an idea of the type of role Towns will play with his new team. Here’s what to make of his debut.

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Grading Karl-Anthony Towns’ Knicks debut

On a night where not much went right for New York, it’s hard to take too many positives from Towns’ performance.

The Knicks made it a point to get Towns involved early, giving him a few touches during his first stint on the floor. As for his first bucket as a Knick, Towns made the most of a mismatch in the mid-post, backing Jrue Holiday down to set up a left-handed hook shot.

KAT with the lefty hook for his first bucket as a New York Knick!

NYK-BOS on TNT | #KiaTipOff24 pic.twitter.com/KodfQQ5OXL

— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2024

Towns finished the first half with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with five rebounds, but New York faced a 74-55 deficit. 

In the third quarter, Towns pulled down two more boards but missed his only shot attempt, and the game continued to get away from the Knicks. With the Celtics turning in a historic shooting night from 3-point range, they took a 26-point lead into the fourth.

In a game where Boston led by as many as 35 points, Towns’ night was done after three quarters and just 24 minutes of action.

It’s hard to take much from a blowout of this proportion, but there’s also something to be said about the fact that New York lost in such a manner in Towns’ first game. To be completely clear, this loss does not even fall remotely on Towns’ shoulders, but his presence did not do much in the way of stopping the bleeding.

As strange of a game as it was, Towns was a minus-18 during his time on the floor. He showed assertiveness with a few heady drives to the basket and made the right read on his three assists.

The end result may have been ugly, but there are a few positives to be taken away from Towns’ debut. For that, he’ll get a passing grade, but not one to be particularly proud of.

Grade: C-

Karl-Anthony Towns stats vs. Celtics

• 24 minutes
• 12 points
• 7 rebounds
• 3 assists
• 0 turnovers
• 5 of 9 (55.6 percent) field goals
• 1 of 2 (50.0 percent) 3-point field goals