Timberwolves stay atop West, undefeated at home as Edwards, Towns shine in 117-100 win over Knicks
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Anthony Edwards had 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 points, and the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New York Knicks 117-100 on Monday night.
Minnesota (10-3) is 6-0 at home - tying a franchise record to start a season - and has won nine of its past 10 games. That stretch included seven straight wins, the franchise's longest streak since 2004 - which was the last year the Wolves made it past the first round of the playoffs.
“I think everyone in the locker room comes together and understands not only that we want to do something special and have a successful season,” Towns said, "but I think all of us understand what it takes to have that kind of season.
“We all have the will that’s needed to win on a daily basis, because we’ve seen how when you don’t have the will how seasons turn out. We also, at the end of the day, understand that Minnesota has lacked one word, and it's execution. If we can execute at a high level, we can see our fortunes change here.”
Jalen Brunson scored 25 points and Julius Randle had 21 for New York, which shot 34.8% (32 of 92) to Minnesota's 51.3%.
The Knicks (8-6) came in allowing a league-low 104.9 points per game.
“We missed some bunnies inside, and then we also missed some wide-open 3s,” said New York coach Tom Thibodeau, whose team saw a three-game win streak snapped. “You've got to make some shots.”
After a quiet first half, Edwards scored nine points during a 16-5 Wolves run to open the third quarter. Mike Conley's third 3-pointer of the night gave them a 76-61 lead with 7:53 remaining in the period.
They never trailed by less than 11 the rest of the way.
Rudy Gobert scored 16 points for the Wolves. Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels left with a sprained right ankle in the first quarter and didn't return. That opened up extended minutes for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who finished with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists.
“I think we’re finding a cohesiveness together,” Alexander-Walker said. “I can’t speak on how big this group has been in terms of chemistry on and off the court, and I think it’s just helping us ... on the court playing for each other, cutting, moving, defending, rebounding, trying to do the small little things to be a good team.”
Naz Reid added 10 points as the Wolves' bench outscored New York's reserves 43-30.
“We have a deep team; we have a lot of guys who can come in and guard,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “Everyone kind of stepped up.”
Quentin Grimes started for the Knicks after missing their previous two games with a sprained left wrist.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Host Miami on Friday.
Timberwolves: Host Philadelphia on Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Mitchell Robinson vs. Rudy Gobert (Jalen Brunson gains possession) | |||
11:43 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-0 | |
11:23 | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (bad pass) (Mitchell Robinson steals) | |||
11:15 | Mike Conley blocks RJ Barrett's two point layup | |||
11:15 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
10:57 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point cutting layup (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 2-2 | |
10:42 | Jalen Brunson misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
10:41 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
10:33 | Quentin Grimes personal foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
10:25 | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 2-5 | |
10:13 | +3 | Julius Randle makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 5-5 | |
9:56 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists) | 5-7 | |
9:41 | Julius Randle misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:40 | Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound | |||
9:34 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point pullup jump shot | 5-9 | |
9:19 | RJ Barrett misses two point floating jump shot | |||
9:18 | Knicks offensive rebound | |||
9:18 | Rudy Gobert personal foul (Loose ball) (Mitchell Robinson draws the foul) | |||
9:14 | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point driving dunk | 7-9 | |
8:57 | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | |||
8:56 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
8:43 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving floating jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 7-11 | |
8:24 | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | |||
8:22 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
8:17 | Jaden McDaniels turnover (out of bounds step) | |||
8:07 | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point jump shot (Quentin Grimes assists) | 10-11 | |
7:47 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 10-13 | |
7:35 | Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:33 | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | |||
7:32 | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point putback layup | 12-13 | |
7:30 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
7:18 | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 12-16 | |
6:57 | RJ Barrett misses two point driving layup | |||
6:55 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
6:48 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
6:45 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
6:37 | Timberwolves technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
6:37 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 13-16 | |
6:23 | Quentin Grimes misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
6:20 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
6:12 | Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:09 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
5:56 | Julius Randle turnover (lost ball) (Karl-Anthony Towns steals) | |||
5:51 | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | |||
5:49 | Anthony Edwards offensive rebound | |||
5:49 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point tip dunk | 13-18 | |
5:29 | Quentin Grimes misses three point jump shot | |||
5:26 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | |||
5:13 | Anthony Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Quentin Grimes steals) | |||
5:07 | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point driving layup | 15-18 | |
4:49 | Rudy Gobert turnover (lost ball) (Quentin Grimes steals) | |||
4:45 | +3 | RJ Barrett makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 18-18 | |
4:31 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving finger roll layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 18-20 | |
4:31 | Jalen Brunson shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
4:31 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 18-21 | |
4:22 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
4:22 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-21 | |
4:22 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-21 | |
4:15 | Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
4:12 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
3:55 | Immanuel Quickley misses three point jump shot | |||
3:53 | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | |||
3:50 | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | |||
3:45 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
3:40 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 20-23 | |
3:15 | Jalen Brunson misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:12 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
3:07 | Anthony Edwards offensive foul (Charge) (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
3:07 | Anthony Edwards turnover (offensive foul) | |||
3:07 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
2:43 | Immanuel Quickley misses two point jump shot | |||
2:40 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
2:29 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
2:26 | Immanuel Quickley defensive rebound | |||
2:15 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point floating jump shot | 22-23 | |
2:15 | Kyle Anderson shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
2:15 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 23-23 | |
1:59 | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point driving finger roll layup | 23-25 | |
1:42 | Josh Hart misses three point jump shot | |||
1:41 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
1:41 | Isaiah Hartenstein personal foul (Loose ball) (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
1:30 | Knicks technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
1:30 | +1 | Naz Reid makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 23-26 | |
1:22 | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Shake Milton assists) | 23-29 | |
1:10 | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point cutting layup (Jalen Brunson assists) | 25-29 | |
0:57 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
0:57 | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | |||
0:47 | +3 | RJ Barrett makes three point jump shot (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 28-29 | |
0:32 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
0:29 | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | |||
0:06 | Josh Hart misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:03 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Immanuel Quickley shooting foul (Shake Milton draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | +1 | Shake Milton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-30 | |
0:01 | +1 | Shake Milton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-31 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:48 | RJ Barrett shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | |||
11:48 | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-32 | |
11:48 | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | |||
11:48 | Kyle Anderson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
11:31 | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | |||
11:28 | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | |||
11:25 | Immanuel Quickley misses three point jump shot | |||
11:22 | Shake Milton defensive rebound | |||
11:17 | +2 | Shake Milton makes two point floating jump shot | 28-34 | |
11:04 | Immanuel Quickley misses three point jump shot | |||
11:04 | RJ Barrett offensive rebound | |||
11:01 | RJ Barrett misses two point putback layup | |||
11:01 | RJ Barrett offensive rebound | |||
11:01 | Mike Conley shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | |||
11:01 | RJ Barrett misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:01 | Knicks offensive rebound | |||
11:01 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-34 | |
10:44 | Naz Reid turnover (bad pass) (RJ Barrett steals) | |||
10:40 | Kyle Anderson blocks Immanuel Quickley's two point running layup | |||
10:37 | Shake Milton defensive rebound | |||
10:34 | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point running dunk (Shake Milton assists) | 29-36 | |
10:26 | Isaiah Hartenstein turnover (lost ball) (Kyle Anderson steals) | |||
10:20 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point cutting dunk (Kyle Anderson assists) | 29-38 | |
10:19 | Rudy Gobert technical foul (Rim hanging) | |||
10:19 | +1 | Immanuel Quickley makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 30-38 | |
10:07 | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point pullup jump shot | 32-38 | |
9:55 | Kyle Anderson misses two point floating jump shot | |||
9:53 | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | |||
9:49 | Naz Reid shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | |||
9:49 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-38 | |
9:49 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-38 | |
9:34 | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point turnaround hook shot | 34-40 | |
9:23 | Shake Milton personal foul (Immanuel Quickley draws the foul) | |||
9:15 | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point floating jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 36-40 | |
9:15 | Mike Conley shooting foul (Immanuel Quickley draws the foul) | |||
9:15 | +1 | Immanuel Quickley makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 37-40 | |
9:04 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point cutting dunk (Mike Conley assists) | 37-42 | |
8:40 | RJ Barrett misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:36 | Shake Milton defensive rebound | |||
8:34 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Shake Milton assists) | 37-44 | |
8:34 | RJ Barrett shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | |||
8:34 | Rudy Gobert misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:32 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
8:20 | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point floating jump shot | 39-44 | |
8:06 | Immanuel Quickley shooting foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) | |||
8:06 | +1 | Mike Conley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-45 | |
8:06 | +1 | Mike Conley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-46 | |
7:53 | Julius Randle misses two point hook shot | |||
7:51 | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | |||
7:51 | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point tip layup | 41-46 | |