Shifted back to center in New York, Towns leads the NBA in rebounding at 13.9 per game — the highest figure of his career. He is averaging 24.8 points and has posted 15 consecutive double-doubles. He is averaging 34.3 minutes per game, the most since — as you might expect — he played for Thibodeau in Minnesota.

It’s a little past 5 p.m., and Towns signs his last autograph. He disappears into the locker room and finishes preparing for the night’s game against the Magic. The Knicks are coming off a loss at home to the Hawks, a defeat that sent them to Orlando instead of Las Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinals. New York needs a bounce-back victory.

Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his first 20-point, 20-rebound game in over five years on Sunday night, when he lifted the visiting New York Knicks to a 100-91 win over the Orlando Magic.