Karl-Anthony Towns responds to critics with clutch performance in Game 4 of WCF

It was only one contest, but Game 4 marked a big moment in Karl-Anthony Towns' career. Towns used Game 4 as a way to remind the masses about the type of player he truly is. 

Minnesota managed to avoid the sweep and keep their season alive on Tuesday night, beating the Mavericks 105-100 in Dallas. While many will point to the heroics of Anthony Edwards as the main reason why the Timberwolves are living to see another day, Towns was the difference.

Towns scored 25 points in 29 minutes — he fouled out late in the fourth quarter. But Towns' impact was not just about the points he scored. Most importantly, Minnesota's longest-tenured star was efficient and clutch as well. Towns was 9-of-13 from the field and connected on 4-of-5 from three-point range. Each of Towns' outside shots helped keep the momentum on the Timberwolves' side and avoid another fourth quarter meltdown.

Edwards, who was an assist away from a triple-double, may have led his team in scoring again with 29, but Dallas would likely be preparing for Boston if not for Towns getting back to form. Unlike in the three previous games of the series, Minnesota's two top stars outscored the combined output of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the Mavericks.

This performance by Towns was far from the first time he stepped up for his team in the playoffs, but it came on the heels of the immense criticism he's been receding all series. After scoring 23 in the second-round series clincher over the defending champion Nuggets, Towns, who averaged 21.8 points per game throughout the regular season, failed to reach 20 points in the Western Conference finals prior to game 4. Of course, Minnesota was all but buried in the series after losing three close games before winning on the road to get the series to a Game 5.

The biggest difference for Towns was finding his stroke from three after going 0-of-8 in Game 3. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch admitted it was “hard to watch” Towns struggle so much during his postgame news conference on Sunday.

Golden State Warrior forward Draymond Green even went as far as to accuse Towns of "capping" (lying) about getting 1,500 shots up every day while joining TNT's coverage. ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith put it bluntly, saying "KAT has to be better." During an episode of "the Stephen A. Smith Show" that was released on Monday, Kendrick Perkins added, "I don't know what the hell he's doing." 

Towns, a former first overall draft pick and four-time NBA All-Star, had to be feeling the pressure to shut everyone up and deliver for his team. And he did just that.

The odds are still stacked against the Timberwolves since no NBA team has ever successfully comeback from a 3-0 series deficit. But Minnesota's only hope is to continue getting this kind of effort from Towns.