There were a handful of defensive possessions in the Knicks’ 116-99 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday where the shell remained intact, the defense was sound, and Wolves shooters made

Randle believed in the Knicks and their potential when almost no one else in the NBA did. When Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and almost every other free agent took a hard pass on the Knicks, Randle risked coming to a franchise that had just finished a 17-65 season and had gone six straight years without making the playoffs.

Jalen Brunson led the way for New York with a strong 26 points, but his 9-23 shooting was a microcosm of the team's struggles all day. The Knicks shot 38% from the field as a team with only Cameron Payne (18 points off the bench) shooting over 50% from the field for the game.

Friday night marked Randle’s first game back at Madison Square Garden since the Knicks traded him and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the three-team blockbuster that brought center Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) shoots at the basket as Boston Celtics forwards Xavier Tillman (26) and Jayson Tatum (0) defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP

Anthony Edwards dominated the struggling Knicks, who were again outplayed in the fourth quarter, again barraged by 3-pointers and again lost handily, 116-99, Friday night to the Timberwolves.

Josh Hart pirouetted as he swiped the ball from Guerschon Yabusele, then floated the pass to Mikal Bridges for the alley-oop slam, then screamed as Bridges hung on the rim with one hand. That was the exclamation point on a Wednesday night when the ‘Nova Knicks’ fingerprints were all over a 125-119 overtime victory over the shorthanded 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Jalen Brunson had 26 points and Cam Payne scored all 18 of his points in a span of 4:17, but the Knicks couldn't keep up with the Timberwolves.

Julius Randle marked his return to Madison Square Garden with a quiet game. But his impact was felt in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 116-99 rout of his former team, the New York Knicks, on Friday night (Saturday Manila time).

With Karl-Anthony Towns relegated a spectator due to a thumb injury, the Knicks' Villanova contingent had another sterling evening at Wells Fargo Center, as former Villanova Wildcats Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson,

Randle played a secondary role in the Timberwolves’ 116-99 win, taking a backseat in the spotlight as Anthony Edwards dazzled with 36 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.