BBNBA: Karl-Anthony Towns, Warrior Killer

March has arrived, but the NBA isn’t stepping back from the spotlight to accommodate college basketball just yet. The league’s biggest stars are revving up for the stretch run of the season, and the BBNBA is front and center. Here’s the latest from Tuesday’s games.

KAT’s 39 leads surging Wolves to upset

A day after icing away a win in Cleveland on Monday, Karl-Anthony Towns showed exactly why this year’s Wolves are not to be taken lightly. Towns led Minnesota to a statement 129-114 victory over Steph Curry and the Warriors, made all the more impressive given Anthony Edwards was sidelined with a knee injury. In his stead, the Wolves got by on 20 points from Malik Beasley, 22 from D’Angelo Russell, and a light 39 points and nine boards by from KAT.

DOMINANT.

39 and 9 for KAT 😼 pic.twitter.com/48DTTjpwAS

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 2, 2022

Towns was dominant from start to finish in the win, his team’s second over the 43-19 Warriors in Target Center this year. In four matchups with the Dubs this season, he’s averaged 28.3 points with double-figure makes on three occasions. The latest performance was the best yet, as he shot an efficient 14-22 from the field en route to his second-highest scoring total of the year.

The win itself was massive for Minnesota, as they’re battling for playoff status in the West. It made for their 10th W in their last 14, and a 1.5-game cushion over the Clippers for seventh place. A playoff appearance in 2022 would be just the second of Towns’ seven-year NBA career.

After the game, KAT jokingly reflected on the strangeness of this new winning feeling:

KAT has had a lot of water poured over his head this season

It means a lot to him https://t.co/8eXodqttBC pic.twitter.com/h3a3zqkyVF

— jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) March 2, 2022

The team’s upcoming schedule should offer plenty of chances to keep the good times rolling. Minnesota doesn’t play another above-.500 team for nearly two weeks; up next, they take on Oklahoma City and Portland this weekend.

Lakers flub another as seeding slips

While the Wolves continue to trend upward, the exact opposite has been true for LeBron James’ Lakers. Tuesday’s 109-104 loss to the Mavericks was their third consecutive home loss since the All-Star break. Making matters worse, the latest reports say Anthony Davis could be out until the playoffs — that is, if they even make it that far.

The Lakers are now seven games below .500. pic.twitter.com/0FgZfGbGcU

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 2, 2022

The Lakeshow at least put up a fight in this one. After trailing by 15 at the half, they surged back to take the lead late in the third quarter. James scored 26 points, Carmelo Anthony chipped in 20 and our guy Malik Monk had another solid night with 17 points and three triples. But Luka Dončić & co. were too much to handle in the final frame, as the Mavs pulled away late.

Not much else to say about this team that’s nice, but hey — welcome back to the league, Wenyen Gabriel?

🖊 Congrats @WenyenGabriel on signing a two-way contract with the @Lakers 🇸🇸🏀 pic.twitter.com/CGSFXN5G1M

— South Sudan Basketball (@SSBFed) March 1, 2022

News & Notes:

• With a contract for the rest of 2022 in his pocket, the DeMarcus Cousins-Mike Malone reunion in Denver seems to be going swimmingly. Since joining the Nuggets, Boogie has been a welcome presence and a force off the bench.
• Willie Cauley-Stein hasn’t gotten much run since joining the Sixers, but that could be changing soon. FUN FACT: Willie has a 76 tattooed on his neck. Could this be fate?
• Tonight’s primetime matchup is the Knicks and Sixers facing off for the second time this week at 7:30 on ESPN. ICYMI, Coach Cal is loving this.

FULL STATS FROM TUESDAY:

Player	Result	Points	FG (3PA)	Rebounds	Assists	Steals	Blocks	Turnovers	Minutes	+/-
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)	129-114 W vs. GSW	39	14-22 (3-6)	9	1	0	0	2	32	+10
Malik Monk (LAL)	109-104 L vs. DAL	17	5-14 (3-6)	5	4	0	1	3	39	+3
Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC)	113-100 W @ HOU	11	4-8 (1-2)	4	2	1	0	1	18	-9
Hamidou Diallo (DET)	116-113 L @ WSH	6	3-8 (0-3)	2	0	1	0	1	19	-7
Jarred Vanderbilt (MIN)	129-114 W vs. GSW	2	1-1	8	2	0	0	3	24	-1
Kevin Knox (ATL)	107-98 L @ BOS	DNP -Coach’s Decision	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Wenyen Gabriel (LAL)	109-104 L vs. DAL	DNP – Coach’s Decision	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Anthony Davis (LAL)	109-104 L vs. DAL	DNP – Foot	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
John Wall (HOU)	113-100 L vs. LAC	DNP – Personal	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Today in the NBA

7:00 – Hornets (Washington, Richards) @ Cavaliers (Rondo*)

7:00 – Pacers (Jackson) @ Magic

7:30 (ESPN) – Knicks (Randle, Quickley, Noel*) @ Sixers (Maxey, WCS)

8:00 – Jazz @ Rockets (Wall*)

8:00 – Heat (Adebayo, Herro) @ Bucks

8:00 – Kings (Fox, Lyles) @ Pelicans

9:00 – Thunder (SGA, Sarr) @ Nuggets (Cousins, Murray*)

10:00 (ESPN) – Trail Blazers (Bledsoe) @ Suns (Booker)

* – inactive