Minneapolis — In one game after setting the questionable franchise mark of three-pointers allowed, the Knicks made some small-scale sniping history on the other side of the court.
The Knicks didn’t break the team record of 24 3-pointers last season against Orlando in October, but they had a record 10 in the first quarter and a season-high 48. scored 19 tries in . He won 120-107 against the Timberwolves at target on Monday.
Julius Randle tied for a career-high by connecting on 8 of 13 attempts from long distance and finished with a season-high 31 points as the Knicks leveled the record at 5-5. .
“I think everyone was free and playing happily. The other part of it is that the guys were playing free and not guessing themselves,” Randall said. And let’s build for each other.”
RJ Barrett scored 22 points, Jalen Brunson scored 23 with eight assists and Obi Toppin scored 15 off the bench for coach Tom Thibodeau’s team.
With Karl-Anthony Towns scoring 25 and Anthony Edwards scoring 16, the Timberwolves were without All-Star center Rudy Gobert (health and safety protocol).
Mitchell Robinson (knee) also missed two games in a row, so Thibodeau changed the starting line-up with Minneapolis native Jericho Sims at center in place of Isaiah Hartenstein. Sims finished with four points, four rebounds and five fouls in 17 minutes, but Thibodeau again returned to his smaller composition with Randle and Toppin together in the frontcourt.
After an ugly loss in which the Celtics recorded 27 3-pointers (a record for both teams), Thibodeau said his team’s perimeter defense was “something we have to keep working on.” admitted. The Timberwolves finished Monday’s game with his 26.8 percent (11-41) shooting from across the arc.
“Very good,” said Thibodeau. “You see, some of them were pretty good looks that were missed and some were challenged quite nicely.”
cam reddish Randle filled in two 3s each in the first four minutes of the game, and Randle’s third and fourth tries gave the Knicks a 22–17 lead with 4:18 remaining. Randle nailed one more from the distance before being replaced by Toppin at 1:45.
Immanuel Quickley then scored the Knicks’ 10th on 19 long-distance attempts to build a 38-29 lead, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the most three-game first quarter in any game in franchise history. times were recorded.
“We’ve been stressing that all year. The games will tell, but obviously that’s how the league does it, so we have to stay calm,” Thibodeau said. “Obviously we want to attack the rim. I think we are leading the league in points in the paint. not.
“I think we moved without the ball and it makes it harder to guard when you play like that. People will open up.”
Toppin made two technical free throws after a transition foul on D’Angelo Russell.
Sims extended his advantage to 25 in the first bucket. He dunked Evan Fournier’s steal in transition with seven minutes remaining until half-time. Moments later, Toppin converted another outlet his pass from Fournier into a flush to take a 60–33 lead. That’s the Knicks’ biggest margin in the first half.
Barrett scored two more goals from the deep to maintain a 23-point cushion going into the final period and boost the Knicks’ three-point total.
Minnesota tied within 13 in a 12-2 spurt to start the fourth, but Randle’s seventh 3-pointer and Branson’s another 3-pointer pushed the lead back to 111-92 with 7:53 remaining.
“They’re a fast-moving team, they play hard and have offensive firepower all over the floor,” Branson said. “It’s hard to contain them. But they had an off-shooting night. They’re a very scary team to play against, but it was our night on both sides of the ball.”
