MINNEAPOLIS — One game after setting a dubious franchise mark for 3-pointers allowed, the Knicks made some smaller-scale sharpshooting history at the other end of the court. 

The Knicks didn’t eclipse their team record of 24 3-pointers from October of last season against Orlando, but they did drill their most ever in the first quarter — 10 — and finished with 19 on a season-high 48 attempts to cruise to a 120-107 win over the Timberwolves at Target Center on Monday. 

Julius Randle tied his career best by connecting on eight of 13 attempts from long distance and finished with a season-high 31 points as the Knicks evened their record at 5-5. 

“I think guys were just playing free and fun. The other part of that is guys were playing free and not second-guessing themselves,” Randle said. “If it’s open, shoot it. And create for each other.” 

RJ Barrett contributed 22 points, Jalen Brunson had 23 with eight assists and Obi Toppin finished with 15 off the bench for coach Tom Thibodeau’s team. 

Karl-Anthony Towns netted 25 and Anthony Edwards added 16 for the Timberwolves, who were without All-Star center Rudy Gobert (health and safety protocols). 

With Mitchell Robinson (knee) also sidelined for a second straight game, Thibodeau made another alteration to the starting lineup with Minneapolis native Jericho Sims at center instead of Isaiah Hartenstein. Sims finished with four points, four rebounds and five fouls in 17 minutes, but Thibodeau turned again to his smaller configuration featuring Randle and Toppin together in the frontcourt down the stretch. 

Coming off an ugly loss in which the Celtics erupted for 27 made 3-pointers — a record for both teams — Thibodeau acknowledged his team’s perimeter defense is “something we’ve got to continue to work at.” The Timberwolves finished Monday’s game shooting 26.8 percent (11-for-41) from beyond the arc. 

“Much better,” Thibodeau said. “Look, some of them were pretty good looks that they missed, and some of them were challenged really well.” 

Cam Reddish and Randle buried two 3s apiece in the game’s first four minutes, before Randle’s third and fourth treys of the period gave the Knicks a 22-17 lead with 4:18 remaining. Randle nailed one more from distance before he was replaced at the 1:45 by Toppin, who promptly sank a 3-pointer from the corner off a kick-out feed from Hartenstein. 

Immanuel Quickley then nailed the Knicks’ 10th on 19 attempts from long range as they built a 38-29 lead, marking their most 3s in the first quarter of any game in franchise history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. 

“We’ve been emphasizing it all year. The game tells you, but obviously that’s the way the league is going so we have to make sure we don’t settle,” Thibodeau said. “Obviously, we want to attack the rim. I think we’re first in the league in points in the paint. But we’ve also got to think about how we can create those opportunities where we get good open 3s. 

“I think we moved without the ball, and when you play like that, you’re hard to guard. People are going to be open.” 

Toppin sank two technical free throws off a transition foul by D’Angelo Russell in the opening seconds of the second, and he coolly sank another 3-pointer for a 10-0 spurt to boost the lead to 19 barely two minutes later. 

Sims extended the advantage to 25 with his first bucket, a transition dunk off a steal by Evan Fournier with seven minutes to go before halftime. Moments later, Toppin converted another outlet pass by Fournier for a flush for a 60-33 lead, the Knicks’ largest first-half margin 

Barrett swished in two more from deep to boost the Knicks’ 3-point total as they maintained a 23-point cushion entering the final period. 

Minnesota drew within 13 with a 12-2 spurt to start the fourth, but Randle’s seventh 3-pointer and another by Brunson replenished the lead to 111-92 with 7:53 remaining. 

“They’re a fast-playing team, and they play hard, and have offensive firepower all over the floor,” Brunson said. “It’s difficult to contain them. But they had an off-shooting night. They’re a very scary team to play against, but it was our night on both sides of the ball.”