Julius Randle’s game has matured since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers three years ago in free agency.
The versatile big made the All-Star game for the first time this season. Randle used an array of mid-range jumpers, three-pointers from deep and feathery finishes inside to make quick work of his former team, as the Lakers fell to the New York Knicks 111-96 at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
<span style="font-weight: 400">Julius Randle scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the New York Knicks against the Los Angeles Lakers, his former team, in a 111-96 win.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400">The Lakers, who have won just five of the 13 games missed by star players Anthony Davis and LeBron James this season, now sit fifth in the Western Conference.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400">Elsewhere on Monday, Bradley Beal contributed 34 points and Russell Westbrook scored a triple double as the Washington Wizards ended the Utah Jazz's 24-game home winning streak with a 125-121 victory.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400">The Jazz remain top of the Western Conference, while in the east, the Philadelphia 76ers hold top spot after a 113-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks, with Joel Embid notching 36 points.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400">De'Aaron Fox, the Sacramento Kings guard, responded to being fined $20,000 by the NBA for criticism of game officials over the weekend by netting 43 points, although his team were beaten 117-110 by the New Orleans Pelicans.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400">Jae Crowder made a career-high eight three-pointers as the Phoenix Suns set a franchise record of 25 three-pointers in a 126-120 victory over the Houston Rockets.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400">The Suns sit second in the west, while elsewhere the San Antonio Spurs eased past the Orlando Magic 120-97 and Jonas Valanciunas recorded a franchise-record 15th consecutive double-double as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Chicago Bulls 101-90.</span>
