NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns came into Friday’s Timberwolves-Knicks matchup as a game-time decision because of an injured thumb. Less than an hour before tipoff, word came from the Knicks that Towns was out, that he would miss the final matchup between his old team and his current team this season.

“The way he kicked our [butt] last time, I was glad we didn’t have to play against him,” coach Chris Finch said.

The Wolves turned Towns’ absence into a 116-99 victory over the Knicks. Anthony Edwards had a bad start to the night — he was 1-for-8 in the first quarter — but he played just about a perfect game after that. He finished with 36 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. He closed with a masterful fourth quarter in which he had 11 points on just three shots and added two assists. That turned a three-point game entering the quarter into a comfortable victory. He added to his highlight reel a two-handed dunk over New York’s Precious Achiuwa while Achiuwa fouled him.

“Y’all know, man. I work,” Edwards said. “So even when I’m missing I think it’s supposed to go in. When I missed my last one, I’m like, ‘It was supposed to go in, so this one is going to go in.’ That’s just how I approach life. I’m not really trippin’.”

There was a lot going on in this game, on and off the court, for the Wolves and many of their players. First was Edwards’ big night, as he took advantage of the Knicks throwing fewer double-teams at him.

“We really need him to stay aggressive and make all the right plays, and I thought it was really, really good tonight,” Finch said.

Second, the Wolves played one of their best offensive games of the season, even as they were missing one of their best offensive weapons of late in Donte DiVincenzo, who missed the game because of a sprain of his left great toe.