New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns received a rousing ovation from the Target Center faithful as he took the court on Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with whom he spent the first nine seasons of his prolific NBA career.

The Knicks led by at least 20 points for the final 31 minutes as Tom Thibodeau, infamously uncomfortable with large leads, emptied his bench with nine minutes left. It was Randle’s first game against the Knicks since his contract extension talks went nowhere and he was shipped to the Timberwolves for Towns.