MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Karl-Anthony Towns returned to Target Center on Thursday night for the first time since being traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the reception was full of love.

Towns entered Target Center about an hour before game time for pregame warmups and was greeted with an ovation from fans who arrived early. Town’s father, Karl Towns, and longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee sat courtside during the game.

Towns spent several minutes taking photos with fans, signing autographs and receiving handshakes and hugs from former teammates on the Timberwolves bench, including Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. Towns couldn’t stop smiling as he took shots.

Tribute before the game

The Timberwolves welcomed Towns with a tribute video before he was announced as the Knicks’ final starter, and the audience at Target Center gave him a standing ovation. Towns didn’t want to leave Minnesota and never asked for a trade, but the NBA is a business.

Why it matters: Towns was drafted No. 1 overall in 2015 and spent his first nine seasons with the Timberwolves. He helped lead Minnesota to the Western Conference finals for the first time in two decades last season. Just before training camp began, Tim Connelly dealt Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

It would have been difficult to keep the trio of Towns, Gobert and Edwards together financially while retaining other key pieces on the Timberwolves’ roster.

Chris Finch has jokes for Towns

He said what? Towns was known to get into foul trouble early during his tenure with the Timberwolves. Chris Finch was asked at his pre-match media release whether the strategy on Thursday was to do just that.

“Well, KAT usually did a pretty good job of getting himself into foul trouble, and I told him that,” Finch said.

The Knicks crushed the Timberwolves 133-107 behind KAT

How it happened: The Knicks outscored the Timberwolves 41-18 in the second quarter, led 73-51 at halftime and dominated the Timberwolves 133-107

Towns had 32 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and two steals in his return to Minnesota. The Timberwolves fall to 14-12 on the season.

“We can’t give you everything. It hits us like any other game we win. However, for me personally, this game was not just another game, and if anyone told you otherwise, that is a lie,” Towns said.

“I am now an avid Timberwolves fan”

What we know: Towns spoke to reporters after the shooting Thursday morning, knowing exactly what the emotions of the evening would be. He was sleeping at his Twin Cities home Wednesday night and said it was strange having to fly to Minneapolis and go to the visitors’ locker room.

He holds no ill will toward the Timberwolves and knows there is a business side to the NBA.

“I stay in very close contact with them, yes. I watch, I’m an avid Timberwolves fan now so I watch a lot of games when I get the chance. “They’re still my brothers, they’re still my boys,” Towns said. “Just because the trade happened doesn’t mean I’ve lost love for them. My love for them will always be there.”

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