NBA: Knicks hold off Timberwolves and top pick Karl-Anthony Towns

The first meeting between the two leading rookie-of-the-year candidates went to New York’s Kristaps Porzingis. Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns had the better all-around game, but Porzingis had the better all-around team.

The Knicks built a 22-point third-quarter lead and held off the Timberwolves, 107-102, Wednesday night at New York.

Towns, the No. 1 overall pick, had 25 points, 10 rebounds and one block in his Madison Square Garden debut. Porzingis had 11 points, seven rebounds and matched a career high with seven blocks, including two of Towns’ shots.

New York’s Carmelo Anthony came within one assist of his third career triple-double — 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio (nine points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists and eight steals) nearly became the fifth player in NBA history with a quadruple double.

at Golden State 128, Phoenix 103: Klay Thompson scored 27 of his 43 points in the third quarter, Draymond Green had his fourth triple-double of the season and the Warriors (25-1) bounced back from their first loss with a vengeance.

at Oklahoma City 106, Portland 90: Kevin Durant scored 24 points and the Thunder extended the league’s longest current wining streak to six games. Damian Lillard had 20 points for the Trail Blazers, but he went 0 for 9 from the field in the second half.

at Indiana 107, Dallas 81: Monta Ellis, scoreless in the first half, had 13 of his 19 points in the third quarter, Paul George added 19 points and the Pacers cruised.

at Orlando 113, Charlotte 98: The Magic led by 25 points in the fourth quarter before turning the game over to the reserves. Channing Frye had a season-high 17 points for Orlando.

Miami 104, at Brooklyn 98: Dwyane Wade scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, and Hassan Whiteside had 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Heat won its third in a row.

at Detroit 119, Boston 116: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored a career-high 31 points and the Pistons held off the Celtics, who got 38 points from Isaiah Thomas, matching his career high.

at Atlanta 127, Philadelphia 106: The Hawks led wire-to-wire and ended a three-game losing streak. The 76ers (1-26) lost their eighth in a row.

at Chicago 98, Memphis 85: Jimmy Butler finished with 24 points and the Bulls used a big third quarter to tie a season high with their fourth straight win.

at San Antonio 114, Washington 95: Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and the Spurs set a franchise record with their 23rd consecutive home victory.

New Orleans 104, at Utah 94: The Pelicans had a 31-15 edge in the fourth quarter and Ryan Anderson scored 23 points off the bench.