MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — As soon as it left his hands, Julius Randle knew his winning 3-pointer was going in.
Randle got the ball with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns tied at 117 and 2.1 seconds to play. Minnesota, which battled back from 16 points down, advanced the ball down the court with a timeout to set up one final shot on an inbounds play.
With veteran Joe Ingles coming into the game solely to inbound the ball, he found Randle at the top of the key. Randle took two dribbles, shook defender Josh Okogie, stepped back and fired from 3.
The buzzer sounded just after the ball left Randle's hands. When the shot dropped through the net, the Target Center crowd erupted, and Randle's teammates mobbed him on the court.
"Really the fun part was just seeing how my teammates celebrate,” Randle said. “We’re a very connected group, and we’re going to celebrate each others’ success. So for me, that was the coolest part.”
Randle's 35 points were the most he's scored since joining the Wolves in a deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks and also brought Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota.
Making the moment extra special for Randle was that both of his sons were at the game. While Randle said his older son is at most games, his younger son typically isn't. But he was in the building along with 18,977 other fans to witness his dad's shot.
“I think this is maybe his second game he's come to. He hates them,” Randle said of his 3-year-old son. “For him to be here and hit the shot in front of him is pretty cool.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) goes up to shoot a 3-point basket to defeat the Phoenix Suns as time ends in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix threw for 307 yards and a season-best four touchdowns, Javonte Williams got a push across the goal line from a half-dozen of his teammates, and the Denver Broncos rolled past the Atlanta Falcons 38-6 on Sunday.
Nix, who was 28 for 33, joined Hall of Famer Peyton Manning as the only rookie QBs in NFL history to throw for 200-plus yards with two or more touchdowns in four consecutive home games.
The Broncos (6-5) snapped a two-game skid and made it an unhappy homecoming for safety Justin Simmons, who spent his first eight seasons in Denver before the Broncos unloaded his $18.5 million salary last winter. Simmons signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Falcons (6-5), who have lost two in a row.
Simmons had five tackles and tried to stop Williams at the 5-yard line, holding his ground for a second or two as reinforcements arrived from both teams for a shoving match that resembled a rugby scrum. The Broncos won it when they shoved Williams into the end zone to complete his 14-yard scoring run that gave Denver an early 14-3 lead.
Nix also completed a pair of 12-yard touchdown throws, one to tight end Nate Adkins and the other to speedster Marvin Mims Jr. to stake Denver to a 21-6 halftime advantage. His 7-yard TD toss to fellow rookie and Oregon alum Troy Franklin made it 28-6 early in the third quarter and he capped his day with a 41-yard scoring strike to Lil'Jordan Humphrey to make it 38-6.
At that point, Falcons coach Raheem Morris replaced starter Kirk Cousins (18 of 27 for 173 yards, no TDs and one interception) with rookie Michael Penix Jr., who promptly completed a 20-yard pass to Ray-Ray McCloud III. Penix was 2 of 4 for 24 yards.
The Falcons, who have lost two in a row, got first-half field goals of 41 and 51 yards from Younghoe Koo, who missed three times last week in a three-point loss to the Saints.
The Broncos snapped a three-game losing streak against Atlanta with their first home win over the Falcons since Sept. 10, 2000.
Kaden Elliss had nine tackles for Atlanta but was upstaged by his little brother, Jonah Elliss, who had a key sack for Denver in the third quarter along with a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss.
Falcons CB Kevin King was ruled out in the second quarter with a concussion and WR Darnell Mooney pulled a hamstring in the third quarter. Atlanta ruled out eight players before the game, including several starters on defense, including CBs Mike Hughes and Dee Alford. ... In the fourth quarter, DL Zach Harrison went out with a knee injury and WR Casey Washington got hurt on a deep incompletion and walked off to the locker room with an unspecified injury. ... Broncos S Brandon Jones (abdomen), who replaced Simmons in free agency, was ruled out and replaced by Devon Key.
Falcons: Host the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 1 following their bye week.
Broncos: At Las Vegas next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) runs out of the pocket against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos linebacker Cody Barton (55) is tackled after his interception by Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin, right, celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin (16) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) passes the ball against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Bo Nix (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) works in the pocket as Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Kentavius Street (93) pressures during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
