Julius Randle Drops 25 in Clutch Finish as Timberwolves Shock Knicks at MSG

Minnesota – Julius Randle is turning his Timberwolves tenure into must-see TV. The three-time All-Star bulldozed his former team again on Tuesday, pouring in 25 points—17 in a sizzling fourth-quarter burst—to push Minnesota past the New York Knicks 115-104 and cap a 10-2 December run for the Wolves. Key highlights • Randle is averaging 24.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists over his last five outings, shooting 51 percent from the field. • Tuesday’s explosion marked the fourth time this month he’s scored at least 10 points in a single quarter, underscoring his growing late-game reputation. • Minnesota owns the West’s second-best record (23-9) since acquiring Randle in the offseason blockbuster that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. Why Randle’s surge matters 1. Clutch factor: The Wolves’ offensive rating jumps from 112.6 to 125.4 in fourth quarters with Randle on the floor, the largest swing for any rotation player on the roster. 2. Spacing unlocked: His improved three-point volume (6.1 attempts per game vs. 4.5 last year) forces defenders to leave Anthony Edwards isolated on the wing, a pairing coach Chris Finch calls “pick-your-poison basketball.” 3. Playoff positioning: Minnesota’s 17-3 record when Randle scores 20-plus puts it on pace for its first top-three conference finish since 2004. Quote of the night “I know every rim in this building, but now it’s home for me,” Randle said after flexing at center court in front of a roaring Target Center crowd. What’s next • Friday vs. Phoenix: a measuring-stick matchup against Kevin Durant’s high-powered Suns. • Mid-January road swing: seven away games in nine nights, a stretch that will test Randle’s durability and Minnesota’s new-look frontcourt depth. • All-Star buzz: Fan voting opened this week, and Randle’s December heroics have vaulted him into the top four among Western Conference forwards. Bottom line The Knicks may have gained Towns’ pure scoring, but the Timberwolves landed the league’s hottest power forward—and Julius Randle is proving every night that Minnesota made the right bet.