For as talented a scorer he is, one Karl-Anthony Towns tendency is constantly ruining offensive possessions.
He fouled out in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 115-104 loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday night in Minnesota.
Foul trouble has emerged as a problem for Towns, and is forcing coach Mike Brown to take him out of games.
And it’s not as if these fouls are coming as the result of protecting the rim and forcing opponents to earn their points at the free throw line.
Over 30 percent of them have been offensive fouls, resulting in Knicks turnovers. Towns has recorded 30 offensive fouls this year — most in the NBA, and six more than the next-highest.
Three of his six fouls on Tuesday were offensive — that’s three possessions that resulted in zero points because of avoidable mistakes.
They have largely come from illegal screens and using his off-hand to push and hook defenders while trying to drive to the rim.
Brown called it out unprompted after Tuesday’s loss.
“He just has to continue to try to not pick up cheap fouls,” Brown said. “Had a couple of cheap fouls where he led with his hands or he hooked a guy. Now, we have to sit him for x amount of minutes when he needs to be on the floor. So, 40 [points] and 13 [rebounds], it doesn’t surprise me at all, because he’s more than capable.
“But if you’re gonna be a great player, and I’m sure he does too, we expect more from him so he can be out on that floor.”
James Nnaji, a 7-foot center who played with the Knicks in Summer League, is utilizing a loophole and joining Baylor, according to multiple reports. The NCAA granted him four years of eligibility. He is immediately eligible.
The No. 31 pick in the 2023 draft, the Knicks acquired his draft rights from the Hornets as part of the three-team Towns trade while Nnaji played overseas.
This past summer, he left Europe to try and earn a spot on the Knicks roster, but failed to do so. The Knicks still own his draft rights, though.
In the new Wild West of college sports, it presents a bizarre situation.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby’s absence Tuesday opened the door for rare playing time for Pacôme Dadiet and Kevin McCullar Jr. It also meant more minutes for Ariel Hukporti and Mohamed Diawara, who play more than those other two but are still on the fringes of the rotation.
Brown wasn’t thrilled with their showing.
“Our young guys, they gotta be ready,” Brown said. “That’s what this league is about. You’re missing bodies, next man’s gotta step up. And again, I thought [the Timberwolves’] physicality blowing up our [dribble handoffs], fighting through passing lanes and us not doing any counters — like, if somebody gets my body and I’m about to come off a DHO, just pick it up and make cuts to the basket. You’re playing for the next guy. But we continually tried to give it to that guy and they blew up the DHO or they got to us when we dribbled and took it from us or however it may be.”
The Cavaliers upgraded Evan Mobley to questionable to face the Knicks for Thursday’s Christmas Day game at Madison Square Garden. He’s missed the last five games with a calf injury.
