ATLANTA — Karl-Anthony Towns’ inspiration wasn’t a shooter, wasn’t a bruising post-up center.
The reason Towns wears No. 32 is one of the best passers to ever lace up basketball sneakers: Magic Johnson, whose assists could have a wing in the Louvre.
That became easier to remember Saturday night at State Farm Arena, where Towns became the focal point of an offense that steamrolled the Hawks 114-98 to recapture home-court advantage with a stout defense and balanced offense.
Towns had 10 of New York’s 23 assists. He finished with a 20-point triple-double, the first of his playoff career. He joined Clyde Frazier, Dick McGuire and Josh Hart as the only Knicks to record a postseason triple-double.
