MINNEAPOLIS — One recreation after setting a doubtful franchise mark for 3-pointers allowed, the Knicks made some smaller-scale sharpshooting historical past on the different finish of the court docket.
The Knicks didn’t eclipse their workforce report of 24 3-pointers from October of final season towards Orlando, however they did drill their most ever within the first quarter — 10 — and completed with 19 on a season-high 48 makes an attempt to cruise to a 120-107 win over the Timberwolves at Goal Middle on Monday.
Julius Randle tied his profession greatest by connecting on eight of 13 makes an attempt from lengthy distance and completed with a season-high 31 factors because the Knicks evened their report at 5-5.
“I feel guys had been simply taking part in free and enjoyable. The opposite a part of that's guys had been taking part in free and never second-guessing themselves,” Randle mentioned. “If it’s open, shoot it. And create for one another.”
RJ Barrett contributed 22 factors, Jalen Brunson had 23 with eight assists and Obi Toppin completed with 15 off the bench for coach Tom Thibodeau’s workforce.
Karl-Anthony Cities netted 25 and Anthony Edwards added 16 for the Timberwolves, who had been with out All-Star heart Rudy Gobert (well being and security protocols).
With Mitchell Robinson (knee) additionally sidelined for a second straight recreation, Thibodeau made one other alteration to the beginning lineup with Minneapolis native Jericho Sims at heart as an alternative of Isaiah Hartenstein. Sims completed with 4 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 fouls in 17 minutes, however Thibodeau turned once more to his smaller configuration that includes Randle and Toppin collectively within the frontcourt down the stretch.
Coming off an unsightly loss during which the Celtics erupted for 27 made 3-pointers — a report for each groups — Thibodeau acknowledged his workforce’s perimeter protection is “one thing we’ve received to proceed to work at.” The Timberwolves completed Monday’s recreation taking pictures 26.8 p.c (11-for-41) from past the arc.
“A lot better,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Look, a few of them had been fairly beauty that they missed, and a few of them had been challenged rather well.”
Cam Reddish and Randle buried two 3s apiece within the recreation’s first 4 minutes, earlier than Randle’s third and fourth treys of the interval gave the Knicks a 22-17 lead with 4:18 remaining. Randle nailed yet another from distance earlier than he was changed on the 1:45 by Toppin, who promptly sank a 3-pointer from the nook off a kick-out feed from Hartenstein.
Immanuel Quickley then nailed the Knicks’ tenth on 19 makes an attempt from lengthy vary as they constructed a 38-29 lead, marking their most 3s within the first quarter of any recreation in franchise historical past, in keeping with the Elias Sports activities Bureau.
“We’ve been emphasizing all of it yr. The sport tells you, however clearly that’s the best way the league goes so we have now to ensure we don’t settle,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Clearly, we wish to assault the rim. I feel we’re first within the league in factors within the paint. However we’ve additionally received to consider how we are able to create these alternatives the place we get good open 3s.
“I feel we moved with out the ball, and while you play like that, you’re laborious to protect. Individuals are going to be open.”
Toppin sank two technical free throws off a transition foul by D’Angelo Russell within the opening seconds of the second, and he coolly sank one other 3-pointer for a 10-0 spurt to spice up the result in 19 barely two minutes later.
Sims prolonged the benefit to 25 together with his first bucket, a transition dunk off a steal by Evan Fournier with seven minutes to go earlier than halftime. Moments later, Toppin transformed one other outlet go by Fournier for a flush for a 60-33 lead, the Knicks’ largest first-half margin
Barrett swished in two extra from deep to spice up the Knicks’ 3-point whole as they maintained a 23-point cushion getting into the ultimate interval.
Minnesota drew inside 13 with a 12-2 spurt to begin the fourth, however Randle’s seventh 3-pointer and one other by Brunson replenished the result in 111-92 with 7:53 remaining.
“They’re a fast-playing workforce, and so they play laborious, and have offensive firepower everywhere in the flooring,” Brunson mentioned. “It’s tough to include them. However they'd an off-shooting night time. They’re a really scary workforce to play towards, however it was our night time on each side of the ball.”
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