MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points and 20 rebounds in his return to Minnesota in leading the inspired New York Knicks past the Timberwolves 133-107. Mikal Bridges scored 29 points as the Knicks built a lead as big as 36 points in the third quarter and won for the 12th time in 16 games. Towns was traded to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo before training camp. Randle had 24 points for the Timberwolves. They were outscored 37-8 over the first nine minutes of the second quarter. Towns had 19 points in that period.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee guard Damian Lillard will sit out the Bucks’ game Friday night at Cleveland because of a strained right calf. The Bucks released an injury report Thursday night ruling out the seven-time all-NBA guard. Earlier in the day, Lillard and teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo were selected to the NBA Cup all-tournament team. Lillard averaged 27.3 points in six NBA Cup games. He scored 23 points Tuesday night as the Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81 in the championship game at Las Vegas. Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinopathy) and forward Khris Middleton illness) are listed as probable for the game Friday. Middleton didn’t play in the NBA Cup final.
Pregame at 6:30pm. Tipoff at 7pm on AM1240 & 96.5FM.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Kelly Pannek and Grace Zumwinkle each scored two goals and the Minnesota Frost beat the Ottawa Charge 5-2 on Thursday night. Minnesota (3-0-1-0) had two multi-goal scorers for the second straight game after getting a pair of goals from Britta Curl-Salemme and Michela Cava in a 6-3 win over Toronto on Dec. 7. Ottawa (1-0-1-3) has lost three straight. Pannek tied it at 1-all in the first period when she curled around the net and tucked it over the shoulder of Gwyneth Philips. Pannek scored again in the second on a power play when she skated down the zone to send a shot over the glove of Philips. Minnesota scored 18 seconds into another power play when Zumwinkle sent in a blast from the point for a 3-1 lead.
Both teams enter Week 16 tied for first place in their respective divisions. Minnesota and Detroit are both 12-2 in the NFC North and Seattle and the LA Rams are each 8-6 in the NFC West. Jonathan Greenard is fifth in the NFL with 11 sacks and tied for second with four forced fumbles, creating constant havoc in the backfield in an excellent first season with Minnesota. And wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has become the Seahawks main option in the passing game this season.
Pregame at 2pm. Kickoff at 3pm on Sunday on 99.1FM
HSBB
Hayward 82, St. Croix Falls 66
Ladysmith 68, Barron 62
HSGB
Braham, Minn. 70, Grantsburg 25
HSBB tonight
Rice Lake at Menomonie. Pregame at 7pm. Tipoff at 7:15pm on 96.1FM.