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In Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Knicks started the second quarter with a one-point deficit but quickly turned the game around by taking the lead on the period's first possession. From that point on, they never relinquished the lead and went on to secure a convincing 133-107 victory. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges led the charge for New York, making a strong statement in their first game since the early-October trade that saw Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo head to Minnesota.

Towns returned to Minnesota with a vengeance, dropping a game-high 32 points on 10-of-12 shooting -- including a perfect 5-for-5 clip from deep -- while adding 20 rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes against his former team. Up to 23 double-doubles in 25 games, he met the moment and did so on a night where Jalen Brunson (14 points on 5-of-14 shooting) was quiet.

Bridges delivered one of his best games as a Knick, complementing Towns with 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting and a 4-for-8 mark from long range in 26 minutes. Just a bucket away from a season-high 31 points Dec. 1 in the 118-85 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Bridges was the clear 1B to Towns as the 1A.

Josh Hart did not play after being listed as questionable due to personal reasons, so Precious Achiuwa started and delivered. In 28 minutes of what was just his six game on the season, he notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Randle (team-high 24) and DiVincenzo (15) combined for 39 points, but the numbers fell by the wayside while the Knicks pulled away from the Timberwolves (14-12). New York especially did so in the second quarter on a 20-0 run where it widened its lead from 38-35 to 58-35 midway through.

Towns, whose scoring and rebounding -- especially without Brunson's buckets and Hart's availability -- sent a message in the homecoming of sorts.

Karl-Anthony Towns got a tribute video in his return to Minnesota

(via @Timberwolves) pic.twitter.com/5KtvQij1cW

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 20, 2024

The Knicks (17-10) are at the Pelicans (5-23). Saturday's 8 p.m. tipoff wraps New York's three-game road trip, which started this past Sunday with a 100-91 win at the Orlando Magic.