NBA: New Wolves stars don’t disappoint in scrimmage at packed Target Center

MINNEAPOLIS - An announced crowd of 15,200 at Target Center sprang to their feet to give the NBA’s last two No. 1 picks, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, a superstars’ welcome in player introductions at Wednesday night’s Timberwolves summer league scrimmage.
A franchise player like Wiggins typically wouldn’t participate in such an event, but it was a chance for the Wolves to capitalize on the excitement generated from landing Towns and local kid Tyus Jones in last month’s draft.
The crowd was so jam-packed in the skyway outside the arena that the scrimmage had to be delayed 20 minutes to make sure everyone got inside before the start.
Keep in mind that Wolves attendance last season averaged about 14,500.
Towns addressed the crowd at center court before the game, thanking everyone for their support and telling them to have fun.
“He’s a well-spoken kid,” Wolves assistant and summer league head coach Ryan Saunders said. “Fans wanted to see him, so they wanted to hear him talk.”
The highly skilled 6-foot-11 center from Kentucky seemed to have already won over Wolves faithful with his outgoing personality, but it was time to finally earn praise for his play in a Minnesota uniform as well.
Towns, who had 19 points and 13 rebounds at halftime, didn’t disappoint.
The scrimmage’s first basket came on a running hook shot from Towns over Gorgui Dieng, an All-NBA rookie second-team center last season.
On the ensuing defensive possession, Towns got his hands on a turnover and tossed a long outlet pass to second-year guard Zach LaVine for a dunk.
LaVine would go on to have a ton of highlight-reel slams.
Wiggins wasn’t about to get outdone early, so he followed up soon after with a baseline two-handed dunk and a bank shot three-pointer. Towns answered with his first shot from beyond the arc.
It was reminiscent of when Towns and Wiggins were high school players challenging each other to a three-point contest during a Nike Hoop Summit practice, which was captured on YouTube.
Eventually Wiggins took a back seat and let Towns showcase his versatile offensive game, which will be tested in the Las Vegas Summer League starting Friday.
NBA draft experts were sold on Towns being a better choice for the No. 1 pick over Duke’s Jahlil Okafor because of his superior defensive ability. But the 19-year-old from New Jersey displayed more than the steady jump shot that stood out in pre-draft workouts.
Towns’ post moves, quick leaping and nifty footwork for his size made him a tough assignment for Dieng and former Michigan State center Adreian Payne.
One transition play had Towns take Dieng off the dribble and finish a Eurostep move, taking a step one way and quickly changing direction with another step for a layup as the crowd exploded with cheers.
In the second half, Towns sank a jump hook while being fouled by Payne.
The night as a whole had about as much defensive intensity as a glorified pickup game, but the Wolves’ top pick gave the scrimmage audience what they came to see - another young player like Wiggins with immense potential.
“Like I’ve said the last few days, he’s been impressive,” Saunders said. “He’s getting more comfortable as each practice goes on. He’s finding places where he can pick his spots and make moves he’s comfortable with. And we’re trying to put him in positions where he can succeed.”