Karl-Anthony Towns has started the 2019-20 season on a tear, averaging 32 points and 13.3 rebounds per game while leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 3-0 start. The big KAT will have his first real test, bound to face the Philadelphia 76ers and center Joel Embiid on Wednesday, the battle between two undefeated teams and two elite centers that could easily battle for an All-NBA nod this season.
Karl-Anthony Towns is off to a phenomenal start
32.0 points per game
13.3 rebounds per game
eFG%: 64.8 (highest among 40 players with at least 50 shots this season)
3P%: 51.7
The Wolves are 3-0 pic.twitter.com/bWR4u5u2EW
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) October 29, 2019
While this is KAT's opportunity to show off his improvement, head coach Ryan Saunders isn't overly concerned he will try to do too much against a strong defensive center in Embiid.
“Maybe in the past we’d have a conversation with him. But I feel so good about where he’s at as a player, as a person, as a leader. I just feel very comfortable with him, so it’s not something I’ll address,” said Ryan Saunders, according to Dane Moore of Zone Coverage.
Towns will test the Sixers' defense, considering he already has 15 made threes for the season and has made more than half of his attempts from long distance. The 7-footer has an efficient field goal percentage of 65% thus far and could put Embiid's perimeter defense on tilt, as he's now able to drive the ball with improved ball-handling, as well as shoot the ball with lethal accuracy when left open.
Towns has also been a rock with intangibles, averaging five assists per game to go with three steals and two blocks per outing, helping the Wolves in every area of the floor.
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