Randle scores 39, Anunoby has 17 in strong debut as Knicks beat Timberwolves 112-106
NEW YORK (AP) OG Anunoby received a nice ovation as he walked to the bench after fouling out of his strong debut with the New York Knicks.
Julius Randle made sure the fans were still cheering at the end.
Randle scored 39 points, Anunoby had 17 in his first game with his new team and the Knicks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-106 on Monday.
Jalen Brunson added 16 points and a career-high 14 assists for the Knicks, who snapped a three-game losing streak after putting Anunoby into the starting lineup for his first game since coming from Toronto in Saturday's trade that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors.
Anunoby only arrived Sunday and was still having things explained to him during the game, but went 7 for 12 from the field and helped the Knicks deliver a solid defensive effort against the Western Conference leaders.
“I thought first game, impressive, really just to be ready and to kind of figure it out like on the fly,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
The Timberwolves cut a 22-point deficit down to four midway through the fourth quarter, but Randle rescued the Knicks by scoring their next 11 points, including a three-point play that made it 110-102 with 23 seconds remaining.
Anthony Edwards scored 35 points, his third straight game above 30. Karl-Anthony Towns snapped out of a recent scoring slump with 29, but the Wolves had a dismal second quarter after making 10 of their first 15 shots in a good start to the game.
“I thought our energy just kind of dipped,” coach Chris Finch said. “I thought our start to the game was good, we made some shots, we got a few stops, but I didn’t think our energy was super high and it kind of maintained that level. They found another gear and we didn’t respond.”
The Knicks outscored the Wolves 38-17 in the second quarter to take a 61-49 lead, then broke it open with an 8-0 run in the third that gave them a 19-point advantage.
Donte DiVincenzo and Anunoby hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Knicks their largest lead at 83-61 later in the quarter, and it was 94-78 headed to the fourth.
Shortly before the game, DiVincenzo appeared to be pointing out some things to Anunoby as the Knicks were warming up.
“Even during the game, they were telling me: ‘Go here. Do this,’” Anunoby said of his new teammates. “They were helping me out for sure, a lot of them and I’m thankful for it.”
Minnesota scored the first 10 of the final period to make it a six-point game before Anunoby's 3-pointer from the corner stopped the run. The Wolves kept coming, but Randle wouldn't let them come all the way back.
He acknowledged after the game that it felt different playing without longtime teammates Barrett and Quickley.
“But that’s part of the league,” Randle said, “just change and adjustment.”
Anunoby said he arrived in New York on Sunday and had been trying to learn some of the Knicks' plays and terminologies they use. He can become a free agent after the season, but wasn't ready to think about his future with his present so unsettled.
“I have to find out where to live,” he said before the game. “I don’t know anything. I’m just trying to figure it out.”
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host New Orleans on Wednesday.
Knicks: Host Chicago on Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Rudy Gobert vs. Isaiah Hartenstein (Karl-Anthony Towns gains possession) | |||
11:42 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point turnaround hook shot | 2-0 | |
11:20 | +3 | Julius Randle makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Hartenstein assists) | 2-3 | |
11:04 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving hook shot (Mike Conley assists) | 4-3 | |
10:38 | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:37 | Knicks offensive rebound | |||
10:37 | Knicks turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
10:30 | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | |||
10:28 | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | |||
10:23 | Jalen Brunson misses two point running layup | |||
10:21 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
10:00 | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists) | 7-3 | |
9:41 | +3 | OG Anunoby makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 7-6 | |
9:23 | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 10-6 | |
9:00 | Isaiah Hartenstein misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:58 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup | 12-6 | |
8:42 | +3 | Julius Randle makes three point pullup jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 12-9 | |
8:16 | Rudy Gobert misses two point driving layup | |||
8:14 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
8:06 | Julius Randle misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
8:04 | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | |||
7:56 | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 12-12 | |
7:41 | Rudy Gobert misses two point alley-oop layup | |||
7:41 | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | |||
7:37 | Julius Randle turnover (out of bounds step) | |||
7:25 | Anthony Edwards misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:22 | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | |||
7:11 | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | |||
7:11 | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-13 | |
7:11 | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-14 | |
6:56 | Isaiah Hartenstein blocks Rudy Gobert's two point cutting dunk | |||
6:54 | Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | Jalen Brunson misses three point running jump shot | |||
6:49 | OG Anunoby offensive rebound | |||
6:47 | OG Anunoby misses two point putback layup | |||
6:46 | Knicks offensive rebound | |||
6:46 | Knicks 60 second timeout | |||
6:36 | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point pullup jump shot | 12-16 | |
6:15 | Isaiah Hartenstein shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
6:15 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-16 | |
6:15 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-16 | |
5:56 | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | |||
5:54 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
5:45 | Anthony Edwards turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
5:27 | Julius Randle misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
5:25 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
5:18 | Julius Randle personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
5:09 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point jump shot | 16-16 | |
4:52 | Julius Randle misses two point layup | |||
4:50 | Julius Randle offensive rebound | |||
4:49 | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point putback layup | 16-18 | |
4:25 | Donte DiVincenzo blocks Jaden McDaniels's two point driving layup | |||
4:23 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
4:17 | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point driving layup | 16-20 | |
4:00 | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot | 19-20 | |
3:37 | Miles McBride turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
3:21 | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point pullup jump shot | 22-20 | |
3:05 | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | |||
3:05 | Julius Randle misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:05 | Knicks offensive rebound | |||
3:05 | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-21 | |
2:50 | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 25-21 | |
2:26 | Miles McBride misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:24 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
2:13 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup | 27-21 | |
2:06 | Knicks 60 second timeout | |||
1:49 | Miles McBride misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:47 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
1:34 | Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:32 | Precious Achiuwa defensive rebound | |||
1:20 | Julius Randle turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
1:12 | Josh Hart personal foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
1:04 | Kyle Anderson turnover (bad pass) (OG Anunoby steals) | |||
0:58 | Jalen Brunson misses three point running jump shot | |||
0:55 | Quentin Grimes offensive rebound | |||
0:53 | OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot | |||
0:52 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
0:42 | Jalen Brunson shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | |||
0:42 | Kyle Anderson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:42 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
0:42 | Kyle Anderson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:41 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
0:41 | Precious Achiuwa personal foul (Loose ball) (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
0:41 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-21 | |
0:41 | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-21 | |
0:37 | Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:33 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
0:26 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup | 31-21 | |
0:26 | Precious Achiuwa shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
0:26 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 32-21 | |
0:01 | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point layup (OG Anunoby assists) | 32-23 | |
0:00 | Anthony Edwards misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:36 | Precious Achiuwa misses two point layup | |||
11:34 | Precious Achiuwa offensive rebound | |||
11:32 | Precious Achiuwa misses two point putback layup | |||
11:30 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
11:23 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 34-23 | |
11:03 | +3 | Josh Hart makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 34-26 | |
10:35 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
10:34 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
10:34 | Timberwolves turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
10:24 | +3 | Quentin Grimes makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 34-29 | |
10:11 | Rudy Gobert offensive foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
10:11 | Rudy Gobert turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:04 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 34-31 | |
10:04 | Troy Brown Jr. shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
10:04 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 34-32 | |
9:50 | Naz Reid misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
9:47 | Quentin Grimes defensive rebound | |||
9:35 | Josh Hart misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:32 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
9:21 | Troy Brown Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Brunson steals) | |||
9:17 | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point jump shot (Quentin Grimes assists) | 34-35 | |
8:58 | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point driving floating jump shot | 36-35 | |
8:58 | Quentin Grimes shooting foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) | |||
8:58 | +1 | Mike Conley makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 37-35 | |
8:42 | Timberwolves technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
8:42 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 37-36 | |
8:32 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 37-38 | |
8:22 | OG Anunoby shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
8:22 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-38 | |
8:22 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-38 | |
8:08 | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:04 | Quentin Grimes offensive rebound | |||
7:53 | Josh Hart misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:50 | Troy Brown Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:47 | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (Charge) (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
7:47 | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:47 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
7:41 | Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:39 | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | |||
7:32 | Mike Conley personal foul (Quentin Grimes draws the foul) | |||
7:23 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 39-40 | |
6:57 | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Hartenstein steals) | |||
6:52 | +2 | Quentin Grimes makes two point running reverse layup | 39-42 | |
6:30 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point floating jump shot | |||
6:28 | Josh Hart defensive rebound | |||
6:22 | +3 | Josh Hart makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 39-45 | |
6:21 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
6:07 | OG Anunoby shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
6:07 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-45 | |
6:07 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-45 | |
5:59 | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:55 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
5:43 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
5:42 | Josh Hart defensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:34 | Josh Hart offensive rebound | |||
5:32 | Quentin Grimes misses three point jump shot | |||
5:28 |