"It’s like a death in the family": Timberwolves coach Chris Finch offers raw reaction after facing Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns faced off against his former team Minnesota Timberwolves for the first time since being traded to the New York Knicks in the offseason. In Sunday's preseason game, Towns delivered a double-double performance as the Knicks secured a 115-110 win over his former team at Madison Square Garden.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch spoke about the experience of facing his former player. Finch admitted that it felt "weird" to go up against Towns, praising his impactful performance. He also acknowledged that it will continue to feel strange every time Minnesota plays against the former Rookie of the Year, especially during his first season with the Knicks.

"It was a little weird for sure seeing him out there in a different uniform. Looks good on him. He played well," Finch said after the game, as tweeted by the Timberwolves' beat reporter Chris Hine.

"But, yeah, it’s like a death in the family in some ways. You got to make it through that first year, and everything is going to be a little odd."

Finch coached Karl-Anthony Towns for three seasons in Minnesota after taking over as coach in 2021. Last season, Towns played a key role in leading Finch's team to the Western Conference Finals.

Towns spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft. Minnesota parted ways with the star forward in a three-team trade that brought Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle to the Timberwolves.

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How Karl-Anthony Towns fared for the New York Knicks against the Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a stellar performance in his first game against the Timberwolves. The former Kentucky standout tallied 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed 16 rebounds and recorded three steals in just over 29 minutes.

Towns has appeared in three preseason games for the Knicks, averaging 17 points per game on 35% shooting from the field, including 22.2% from beyond the arc. He has been a force on the boards, averaging 10.7 rebounds per game, along with two steals.

Next, Towns and the Knicks face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. The Knicks have three preseason games remaining before they kick off their regular season against defending champions Boston Celtics on Oct. 22.

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