Knicks takeaways from Monday’s 140-134 loss to Timberwolves, including Julius Randle’s career-high 57 points
The Knicks‘ three-game win streak came to a close on Monday in a 140-134 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here are the takeaways…
1. Offense was the theme of the first quarter for both teams. Minnesota knocked down its first 10 shots and ended the quarter shooting 73 percent from the field with Taurean Prince and Rudy Gobert each in double figures. For the Knicks, Julius Randle contributed 13 points in a quarter where New York shot 60 percent from the field.
On a night where both offenses were red-hot early, the Timberwolves used a 19-3 stretch in the middle of the quarter to take a 42-32 lead into the second quarter. Minnesota’s 42 points were the most allowed by New York in the first quarter this season.
2. While the starters stole early headlines for both teams, Immanuel Quickley offered valuable minutes off the bench early on, scoring 10 points in his first six minutes on the floor.
3. For as well as Minnesota played offensively in the first half, New York ended the second quarter on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to nine points.
Randle continued his early production to close the first 24 minutes with 26 points. He also ignited the scoring in the second half with 10 points in the opening four minutes of the third quarter as the teams traded points.
4. During the third quarter, three-point shooting brought the Knicks back into the game to cut the Minnesota lead to four.
Randle took over in historic fashion with 26 points in the quarter, the most ever in a single quarter in Knicks’ history. The 28-year-old surpassed his career-high in scoring with 52 points by the end of the third quarter. Randle also became the eighth player with a 50-point performance in franchise history.
5. With a boost from the previous quarter, Josh Hart and RJ Barrett helped New York get out to a 7-2 run to open the fourth quarter and regain the lead. Despite the Knicks’ comeback, Minnesota pulled away with free throws and the continued three-point conversions from Prince, who finished the night perfect from beyond the arc on eight attempts. New York cut the deficit to two with under a minute to play before Minnesota closed out the 140-134 victory at Madison Square Garden.
In a career night, Randle led New York with 57 points on 19-29 shooting with eight made three-pointers. Jalen Brunson added 23 points as one of five Knicks in double figures. Prince led Minnesota with 35 points and missed just one of his 13 attempts from the field as one of seven players for Minnesota in double figures.
Highlights
What’s Next
The Knicks head to Florida for two games, beginning with a matchup in Miami with the Heat on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Source: Yahoo Sports
