Karl-Anthony Towns’ historic chase turned into a Timberwolves disgrace.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch ripped his team for “disrespecting the game” in their 128-125 loss to the Hornets that turned into a one-man show as Towns attempted to break points records after scoring 44 in the first half.
“It was an absolutely disgusting performance of defense and immature basketball all the way through the game,” Finch told reporters afterward.
“So, it really didn’t slip away, it had been there from the jump. This is what happens when you have this type of approach.”
Towns finished with 62 points on 35 shot attempts — 24 more attempts than his closest teammate.
The Timberwolves led by 15 points after three quarters but were outscored 36-18 by the now 10-31 Hornets in the fourth quarter.
“What I said at halftime was, ‘Why don’t we start getting back to being who we are, play some defense and not let this game fall down to a point where we miss a bunch of shots and they make a bunch of shots and then we’re behind.’ That’s what I said at halftime,” Finch said.
Trailing 126-125 in the final seconds, the Timberwolves predictably fed Towns who was swarmed by Hornets defenders as he drove to the basket.
The ball was stripped by Leaky Black and he made both free throws before Towns missed a desperations three at the buzzer that would have tied the game.
“Once he hit his first six, seven shots everyone was trying to see him get 100 points. I know I was,” said star forward Anthony Edwards, who only attempted one shot in the first half.
“(We were) immature as f–k tonight … We wanted to see him get 80 or whatever it was. We’ll learn from it.”
The 30-13 Timberwolves are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the Thunder.