Karl-Anthony Towns and Ja Morant aren't the only members of their families starring in the playoffs' most hotly contested first-round series. The impact of Karl Towns Sr., though, actually extends a bit further on the Minnesota Timberwolves than his hilarious sideshow with Tee Morant suggests.

During an interview with Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports following Minnesota's crucial Game 5 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Towns revealed his dad's unexpected role in their budding rivalry with the Morants. If not for the elder Towns, his son might've literally missed Ja Morant's viral Twitter clap back

“I want to make this clear: I’m not a guy who’s on social media. So, I didn’t know what was said back or anything. But my dad, of course, would be the one to tell me what Ja tweeted,” Towns told Yahoo Sports. “Ja’s dad told my dad about how Ja said something back. So I’m good. It’s good competitive basketball. You gotta love playoff basketball.”

Towns, of course, was referring to Morant's emoji response to the former's Game 3 quip about the Timberwolves' home-court advantage, prior to the Grizzlies' epic 26-point comeback victory.

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The series now shifts back to Memphis for a best-of-three. Towns and Morant, obviously, will play pivotal roles in its outcome, with their doting, dads behind them.

Game 5 tips off from FedExForum at 4:30 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday.