Julius Randle hit the free throw and went free with 32 seconds left Sunday when the New York Knicks faced a 21-point lead in the third quarter before coming back for a 103-99 win over Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Knicks were beaten 33-11 over a nearly 13-minute race starting late in the third quarter before Randle’s free throw began a game-ending series in which New York made all six hits off the line. Alec Burks made four of his own in the final 20.9 seconds.
Randle finished with 25 points at team level and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, who have won four of five. RJ Barrett scored 13 points while Burks added 13. Elfrid Payton scored 11 points for New York, while Reggie Bullock and Nerlens Noel scored 10 each.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 27 points in the game and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, including 15 points and nine rebounds during the fourth quarter when he led the Minnesota rally.
Ricky Rubio had 18 points for the Timberwolves, rookie Anthony Edwards added 12 points and Naz Reid put 11 points off the bench for Minnesota, who have lost four in a row.
The Knicks took their biggest lead at 86-65 after a pair of free throws by Randle with 1:48 left in the third. A four-point play by Juancho Hernagomez marked a 6-1 run to end the quarter with the Timberwolves, who marked the move into the fourth quarter.
A three-point play by Jaden McDaniels drew the Timberwolves within 95-94 with 4:01 remaining. Hook towns climbed the skies to give Minnesota a 96-95 lead with 2:48 left, the first lead from 13-11 in the first quarter.
The Knicks took the lead back on a driving position with Barrett with a 1:59 remaining, after which Towns hit a free-throw pair for Minnesota’s 98-97 win with 1:44 left.
The teams came together to miss their next four shots before Randle put the series on Towns and pulled the deception. A baseline turn by Towns in and out with 23 seconds left and Burks hit two free throws to give New York a 101-98 lead.
Rubio hit one free throw on the Timberwolves’ next inning, but Randle moved his way to the replay and went to the Burks, who won with two more free throws.
–Field Media Level