Julius Randle posted his first triple-double with the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading them to a 125-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night at Barclays Center.
The win lifted Minnesota to 4-3 on the season, while Brooklyn fell to 0-7 — remaining the only winless team in the NBA.
Randle finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking the 15th triple-double of his career. Donte DiVincenzo added 25 points, Jaden McDaniels scored 22, and Rudy Gobert dominated inside with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
The Timberwolves played without Anthony Edwards for the second straight game due to a hamstring injury but still managed to control the tempo and efficiency throughout. The team shot 56% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc, outrebounding the Nets 53-40.
Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 25 points, while Nic Claxton contributed 19 points and 8 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Nets’ defense struggled to contain Minnesota’s ball movement and paint scoring.
Minnesota led by double digits midway through the third quarter before Brooklyn’s 24-13 run, capped by a four-point play from Ziaire Williams, gave the home team an 88-87 lead with under two minutes left in the period.
Randle responded immediately, scoring four straight points to close the quarter with the Timberwolves up 91-88. Minnesota then opened the final frame with a 6-0 spurt, taking control as Brooklyn missed its first three shots and committed two turnovers.
The Timberwolves maintained their lead for the remainder of the game, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and steady half-court execution. Mike Conley added 9 points and 7 assists, while Naz Reid contributed 21 points off the bench on 70% shooting.
For Brooklyn, the loss extends a difficult start reminiscent of the franchise’s 0-18 beginning to the 2009–10 season, when the team was still based in New Jersey. The Nets played without Michael Porter Jr., who was out due to personal reasons.
Minnesota now stays in New York to face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. Brooklyn will look to end its losing streak when it visits the Indiana Pacers the same night.
