Exactly a year prior to his long-awaited MSG return, the highest mark of Julius Randle’s tenure was taking shape.

Jalen Brunson flew past a New York Knicks legend in Monday's win over the Atlanta Hawks. Another sterling scoring output for Brunson, earner of 34 points, allow

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.

Julius Randle speaks about the Knicks trade to the Timberwolves and reflects on his time in New York and his new journey in Minnesota.

Jalen Brunson, who was born in New Brunswick and was snubbed as a starter last year, will start in the backcourt, while Piscataway native and former St. Joe’s-Metuchen big man Karl-Anthony Towns will start in the frontcourt. The game is set for Feb. 16 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

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.

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 and Julius Randle were named All-Star reserves last season, but Randle didn't participate because of his dislocated shoulder. Brunson should've been named a starter over Damian Lillard, but the fan votes swayed in the latter's favor.

On Friday night, Julius Randle made his return to New York when the Minnesota Timberwolves faced off against the Knicks. The Timberwolves won by a score of 116-99. Randle finished the victory with ...

NEW YORK – Julius Randle marked his return to Madison Square Garden ... Without their center, who is a walking double-double, it took a toll on the Knicks, who heavily relied on Jalen Brunson to no avail. The Knicks captain finished with 26 points ...

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.

So did Julius Randle, who beat the Knicks with the pass ... Rarely, if ever, do the Knicks task Jalen Brunson with defending the point of attack — despite it being his natural position. At 6-1 with below-average foot speed, Brunson is ill-suited to ...