LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored a career-high 56 points on Wednesday to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 126-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks and closer to an NBA playoff berth.
The Timberwolves, seeking their first postseason appearance since 2004, bounced back from a humbling 101-93 defeat by the lowly Memphis Grizzlies.
Towns’ 56 points eclipsed the club scoring record of 52 held by Mo Williams.
He added 15 rebounds as the Timberwolves halted a two-game skid.
“I just wanted to win,” Towns said. “We have to find a way to win and tonight’s a start.”
Towns surpassed his previous career high of 47 points, set against the New York Knicks in 2016.
He made three straight free throws with 3:36 remaining after he was fouled attempting a three-pointer.
Towns are the 10th player this season to hit the 50-point mark. James Harden has the best single-game performance of the season with 60 points in a 114-107 win over Orlando.
The win helped Minnesota maintain their hold on eighth place in the Western Conference, with eight teams securing playoff berths.
© Agence France-Presse
