Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns furthers MVP case with another 30-point game 

The New York Knicks won again on Monday night, and Karl-Anthony Towns led the way, just as he's done all season. New York beat the Wizards 126-106 for their second consecutive win over Washington, which also saw Towns surpass 30 points in back-to-back games. 

Towns scored 32 points in as many minutes (to be exact) while adding 13 rebounds and an assist on the night. This came after he put up 30 with 14 boards and three assists on Saturday night. He shot exactly 68.4 percent from the field in both games. 

Towns' heroics have awarded New York wins No. 22 and 23 on the year. But it's not as if Towns has only excelled against the lowly Wizards. He also recorded 31 recently on Dec. 23 against Toronto and 32 in his return to Minnesota on Dec. 19. 

Towns, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft and a four-time All-Star amid his first season with the Knicks after spending nine years with the Timberwolves, has reached 30 points 11 times this season. 

Towns' biggest performances have also taken him well beyond the 30-point mark, twice getting over 40. He scored 46 on Nov. 13 and 44 on Oct. 30 at Miami. 

Even though he was surprised when Minnesota shipped him off to New York as part of a blockbuster deal on Oct. 3, Towns has stepped up his game and become a true MVP candidate with the Knicks. 

Towns brought his career averages of 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game with him to Madison Square Garden. And while he fit well next to Anthony Edwards, his game has been unlocked even more as the main star alongside Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. 

Through 31 games, Towns carries a season average of 24.7 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists with a shooting percentage of 55.0, which, if it holds, will be his most efficient season since 2017-18.  

Barring an injury or something drastic, Towns is poised to complete his best individual season in years. And if he continues his current pace, the Knicks should remain a legitimate contender as they strive to get the franchise to its first NBA Finals in 25 years.