MINNEAPOLIS — Julius Randle tried but failed miserably to hijack Karl-Anthony Towns’ big night.
With revenge clearly on his mind and a determined look on his face, Randle came out aggressive and angry, dropping 15 points in the opening quarter.
But his start was more sizzle than steak as the Knicks, behind an emotional and effective performance from Towns, dominated the final three quarters of a 133-107 statement obliteration.
Towns left gleeful.
Karl-Anthony Towns put on a show for the Knicks in his first game back in Minnesota on Thursday night. Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Randle left peeved, bolting off the court immediately after the final buzzer without shaking hands and bee lining out of the arena in sunglasses.
“They kicked our ass in every department,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.
For Thursday night and the first third of this season, the Knicks (17-10) won the trade.
Towns has been a stat stuffer and reinforced his status as an Eastern All-Star starter candidate with 32 points on 10 of 12 shooting, 20 boards and six assists.
The other Knicks newcomer, Mikal Bridges, added 29 points on 12 of 18 from the field.
The Knicks led by at least 20 points for the final 31 minutes and even Tom Thibodeau, infamously uncomfortable with large leads, emptied his bench with nine minutes left.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 19, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NBAE via Getty Images
“The way KAT performed was ridiculous,” Jalen Brunson said. “So not much to say besides he came out there ready to play, and we’re happy we got the win.”
It was Randle’s first game against the Knicks since his contract extension talks went nowhere and he was shipped to the Timberwolves for Towns.
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) battles Mike Conley (10) to the paint in the first quarter at Target Center on Thursday night. Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
A day prior, Randle playfully stonewalled questions about facing his former team, an interview that demonstrated, if nothing else, his desire to disconnect from the Knicks despite five seasons with the franchise.
Then on Thursday, Randle started with powerful moves and one angry shout at the Knicks bench following his trey. He was grooving.
But everything changed in the second quarter.
New York Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) works around Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) in the third quarter at Target Center. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
OG Anunoby switched on Randle, prompting a couple turnovers and some ugly Timberwolves possessions.
The Knicks’ offense hit full stride and launched a 37-8 run to take full control.
Minnesota’s best defense of the evening arrived courtesy of the arena security, who tackled two women in neon cheerleader outfits who attempted to run on the court with an advertisement on their T-shirts.
Julius Randle of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the New York Knicks in the third quarter at Target Center on December 19, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Getty Images
One didn’t get past the first sideline. Both were quickly arrested.
“Every aspect of the game, offensively, defensively, they outcompeted us,” Minnesota center Rudy Gobert said. “They played better as a team, they defended better as a team, they beat us in every aspect.
“I didn’t like my energy. My physicality. I thought I was absent.”
The half ended with a 22-point Knicks lead and the home crowd booing the Timberwolves (14-12).
Randle finished with 24 points but just nine points on 3 of 9 shooting after the opening quarter.
His forgoing of the postgame handshakes was indicative of his mood.
He declined to talk to the media.
The Knicks were playing without Josh Hart, who wasn’t at Target Center because of personal reasons.
They instead started Precious Achiuwa (13 points, 10 rebounds) at power forward and re-inserted Jericho Sims (18 minutes, six points) in the reserve rotation.
Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks celebrates with teammate Miles McBride against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on December 19, 2024. Getty Images
It was the first missed game of the season for any of the regular wing starters — Hart, Bridges and Anunoby — and the Knicks didn’t skip a beat.
They shot 52 percent, including 44 percent from beyond the arc.
Brunson struggled by his high standards — he scored 14 points with seven assists — but New York didn’t need him.
Donte DiVincenzo of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on December 19, 2024. NBAE via Getty Images
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during
the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 19,
2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NBAE via Getty Images
Donte DiVincenzo, the other former Knick involved in the Towns trade, was a non-factor with 15 points in 25 minutes, with his status in Minnesota such that he played the totality of garbage time.
For Towns, the night was a long winterland lovefest.
The center returned to snowy Minnesota to two video tributes — one before tip-off, another during the game — as Towns gushed about the “warm feeling” of stepping back in the Target Center.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks acknowledges the fans prior to the start of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on December 19, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Getty Images
“I was here nine years. That’s a long time. I called this place home,” Towns said. “To be back here, to be able to sleep in my house one more time, it was really a nostalgic feeling.”
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Towns, who spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves after being drafted first overall in 2015, was appropriately greeted with six inches of snowfall but dismissed the idea that he’d have trouble commuting to morning shootaround.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with teammates after a timeout called in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Minneapolis. AP
“That’s a New York question. That’s not a Minnesotan question,” Towns laughed. “Come on. I ain’t going to answer that one.”
It was a much different vibe from Randle, who came out with an axe to grind and left with a dull blade. Towns left with a win and a celebration of his nine years in Minnesota.
“The game wasn’t just another game,” Towns said. “If anyone tells you otherwise that’s a lie.”
