It’s still a bit surreal seeing Karl-Anthony Towns in Knicks blue and orange instead of Timberwolves threads. But on the night before Christmas Eve, the reunion was less about nostalgia and more about two teams with serious postseason aspirations going head-to-head. And this time, Minnesota had the final say.
The Timberwolves came out with purpose and poise, handling the short-handed Knicks 115-104 in front of a lively Target Center crowd. Towns, as he often does, reminded fans of just how gifted he is-dropping 40 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. But without Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, New York lacked the firepower to keep up down the stretch.
Minnesota’s defense, anchored by a locked-in Rudy Gobert, clamped down when it mattered most. And when the Wolves needed a closer, Julius Randle-yes, the former Knick-delivered in a big way.
Randle poured in 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including a personal 15-point run that helped Minnesota stretch the lead to double digits. That stretch was the turning point, a 16-7 run that broke the game open and put the Wolves firmly in control.
After the game, Randle reflected on his late-game surge and what allowed him to flip the switch.
“Just being present,” Randle said. “That’s what I try to work on-being in the moment, not thinking about the past or the future.
Just being locked in right now. And being in the league for 12 years helps with that.”
While Randle brought the hammer late, Anthony Edwards set the tone early-and often. With Mike Conley back in the starting lineup and Jaden McDaniels sidelined, Edwards slid into a more traditional shooting guard role and thrived.
He finished with 38 points, finding his rhythm off the ball, cutting to the rim, and knocking down open threes. It was a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when he doesn’t have to initiate every possession.
“Playing off the ball, I feel like it’s better for me,” Edwards said postgame. “I really don’t have to pass.
Somebody else is passing me the ball. It’s not my responsibility to find people if I’m off the ball.”
It’s that kind of honesty-and that kind of performance-that makes Edwards such a unique star. He’s evolving, and so are the Wolves.
Then there’s Gobert, who continues to anchor everything Minnesota does defensively. His stat line-11 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks, two steals-only tells part of the story.
He was a wall in the paint, a vacuum on the glass, and a constant disruption to the Knicks’ offensive rhythm. And his coach took notice.
“It’s Defensive Player of the Year stuff,” Chris Finch said. “It’s every bit as good as it was two seasons ago and every other time he’s won the award. I mean, it’s just, it’s phenomenal.”
Gobert, never one to shy away from owning his impact, echoed that confidence.
“It feels good,” he said. “I feel like I’m coming in every night with the mindset of helping the team win and be who I am, which is, I think, the best defender in the world. I know that I have to be that consistently for us to achieve what we want to achieve as a team.”
And right now, the Timberwolves are achieving. With the win, they move to 20-10 on the season-just the second time in the past two decades they’ve hit the 20-win mark within their first 30 games. They’ve won 10 of their last 12, and more importantly, they’re starting to look like a team that knows exactly who it is.
There’s still a long road ahead. But if this version of the Timberwolves shows up in April and May, they’re going to be a problem. The pieces are clicking-Edwards is ascending, Randle is finding his groove, Gobert is anchoring the defense, and the team’s chemistry is starting to feel real.
On a night filled with reunions and reminders, Minnesota didn’t just win-they showed why they’re a team worth watching deep into the spring.