Karl-Anthony Towns records season-high NBA score on historic night of scoring

By Ben Morse, CNN

Updated 1122 GMT (1922 HKT) March 15, 2022

Karl-Anthony Towns receives congratulations from teammates Jaylen Nowell and Anthony Edwards after scoring 60 points against the San Antonio Spurs.

(CNN)Karl-Anthony Towns recorded the highest individual point tally in the NBA this season on what was a historic evening for scoring in the league.

Towns scored 60 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves' 149-139 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. Adding 17 rebounds to his night, the 26-year-old joined esteemed company — alongside Karl Malone, Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, James Harden and Wilt Chamberlain — in becoming the only players in NBA history to finish a game with 60 points and 15 rebounds.He finished with 19-for-31 overall shooting and was 7-for-11 on three-pointers. His 60 points is also a Minnesota franchise record, as well as a career-high for Towns, surpassing his previous record of 56. Towns shoots the ball during the game against the Spurs.The Timberwolves are embroiled in a hot playoff race in the Western Conference, and Towns said he understood the importance of the game beforehand, something he expressed to head coach Chris Finch. Read More«I told Coach (Finch) before the game: 'Hey listen, we need this win. I'll do whatever it takes,'» Towns said. "'If I need to play 44, 48 minutes, I'll get it done.' That was kind of the mindset I came in (with). I had to dominate. I had to be my best."The win leaves Minnesota 1.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff standings. Towns' scoring outburst came on an evening of big scores around the league. Two-time MVP Steph Curry scored 47 points in the Golden State Warriors' 126-112 win over the Washington