The Timberwolves live another day, avoiding the sweep and forcing a Game 5 in the Western Conference Finals.
It's Minnesota's first Western Conference Finals win since 2004 when Kevin Garnett led Minnesota against the Los Angeles Lakers. Two decades later, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are vying for the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance.
Towns, who has struggled with fouls throughout his playoff career, put together a strong Game 4 performance amid the ongoing criticism on social media and more foul trouble.
The Sporting News breaks down Towns' stats and how he played in the road elimination game.
MORE: How many teams have overcome a 3-0 deficit?
Karl-Anthony Towns Game 4 stats
Towns was efficient and effective in limited minutes thanks to the foul trouble he got himself into. When he was on the floor, the Timberwolves were plus-15, which was a game-high for both teams.
The 7-footer played just 30 minutes but each second was critical in the 105-100 victory on Tuesday.
BIG MAN TWO-HANDED JAM. 💥 pic.twitter.com/dhUKYD4rdP
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 29, 2024
He started the game going to the basket, then hit three critical 3s in the final five minutes when the Wolves needed it most.
BACK-TO-BACK THREEEEEEEES.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 29, 2024
😼 😼 😼 😼 😼 pic.twitter.com/VHGLmMKPxK
KAT IS ON FIRE IN Q4. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/7G70SrrslK
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 29, 2024
| Points | 25 |
| Rebounds | 5 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Steals | 0 |
| Blocks | 0 |
| Turnovers | 4 |
| Personal fouls | 6 |
| FG | 9/13 |
| 3-PT FG | 4/5 |
| FT | 3/3 |
| Plus-minus | +15 |
| Minutes | 30 |
Karl-Anthony Towns fouls
Towns' defense has been a weakness in his game for a while, but it's been much more of a problem in the playoffs, especially against the Mavericks.
He's received a lot of criticism on Twitter for his defense and picking up fouls. Towns had just two fouls in each of the first three games of the series, but he had six fouls in 30 minutes in Game 4. He picked up his fifth foul in Game 4 with five minutes to go in the third quarter.
WHY KAT? WHY? Trying to lean in to grift for a foul and picked up your fifth.
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) May 29, 2024
For what it's worth I don't think this is a flagrant. pic.twitter.com/y9PfrtfgIJ
Not to mention, the sixth foul came with 1:38 remaining in the game. Towns committed a silly foul on Luka Doncic's 3-point attempt and was forced to sit for the final 90 seconds. Luckily, that didn't matter as Minnesota still won.
How KAT plays defense: pic.twitter.com/u0E0XQwRAM
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) May 27, 2024
Even Edwards had commented on Towns' tendency to foul early in the playoffs.
"Just stop f— fouling," Edwards said to Towns during a press conference.
“Just stop fuckin’ fouling”-Ant to KAT pic.twitter.com/ZoyEm2Nm89
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 29, 2024
Edwards reminded Towns to stop fouling after Game 4, this time saying he'll "beat [Towns] up on the bus."
Ant says he's beating up KAT on the bus for fouling out 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/A2IwJ5nMRQ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 29, 2024
Timberwolves vs. Mavs schedule
Here is the complete schedule for the NBA Playoff series between the Timberwolves and Mavericks:
(3) Timberwolves vs. (5) Mavericks — Dallas leads 3-1
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| May 22 | Mavericks 108, Timberwolves 105 | — | — |
| May 24 | Mavericks 109, Timberwolves 108 | — | — |
| May 26 | Mavericks 116, Timberwolves 107 | — | — |
| May 28 | Timberwolves 105, Mavericks 100 | — | — |
| May 30 | Game 5 | 8:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| June 1 | Game 6* | 8:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
| June 3 | Game 7* | 8:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
*If necessary
