Towns overcomes jitters

Karl-Anthony Towns is used to having a lot of people watch him.

After all, he played at Kentucky, where more than 22,000 pack Rupp Arena every game. But Towns wasn’t in Lexington on Friday. He was in Las Vegas, and a record opening-day crowd of 12,422 came out to watch the NBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick from last month make his debut with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Summer League.

The 6-foot-11-inch center didn’t dominate against the Los Angeles Lakers. But he did enough things well that Timberwolves fans don’t have to worry about Towns being the next Anthony Bennett. He finished with 12 points, three rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes and helped his team hold off the Lakers, 81-68.

“I won’t lie to you, I was nervous,” Towns said. “My teammates did a good job of talking to me and settling me down and I felt more comfortable as the game went on.

“But the biggest adjustment was playing 32 minutes. I’m used to being platooned and playing just 19. So that was definitely different. But I thought I adjusted well. It’s a faster, more physical game at this level.”

Towns airballed his first shot attempt and it was easy to see the butterflies were there. But Towns began going to the basket and not settling for jumpers. He also displayed a deft passing touch, and the four assists were a glimpse of things to come when he plays with better players.

“He’s an excellent passer,” said Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine, who led all scorers with 24 points. “He’s really smart and he knows where to put the ball.”

Ryan Saunders, coach of Minnesota’s summer league team, said Towns’ debut was what one might expect from any rookie.

“I was so impressed with the way he competed,” Saunders said. “He was absolutely nervous at the start. But he settled down and the guys were able to talk to him and calm him down.

“He’s a very savvy kid. He picks things up quickly. Overall, I’m very pleased with what he did.”

Towns said he wasn’t certain he and his teammates would click right away. But that wasn’t the case.

“For a bunch of guys who’ve only been together for a few days, I thought our chemistry was very good,” he said. “It’s only going to get better the more we play together.”

Towns wasn’t the only high lottery pick the fans came to see. Most, in fact, were in the Thomas &Mack to watch the No. 2 overall selection — the Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell — make his debut. Russell didn’t sign his contract until Friday afternoon and his availability was a source of conjecture among Laker fans, who monitored Twitter and Facebook for updates on Russell’s status.

But he was on the court, warmly received, and appeared more comfortable in the pro setting than Towns. Russell played 27 minutes and compiled eight points and six assists. He was filling the facilitator role the Lakers envision for him, and general manager Mitch Kupchak and coach Byron Scott, who were watching from the front row, appeared pleased by what they saw.

“I’m just trying to learn,” Russell said. “It’s my first game. But I’m excited to be here and be part of the Lakers. I think the sky’s the limit for this team. With Kobe (Bryant) coming back, the moves we’ve made and the guys they’ve brought in, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Both players were amazed by the turnout to watch them. The interest level was so great, summer league officials had to open most of the balcony to accommodate the large number of fans who wanted to watch Towns and Russell.

“The summer league is a big thing,” Towns said. “That was a great atmosphere to have all that energy in the building. I loved it.”

Towns said he looks forward to turning the Timberwolves from a perennial loser to a team that’s going to the postseason and ultimately compete for an NBA championship.

“I want to help change the image,” he said. “This was my first step.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.