The New York Knicks (5-3) continued their homestand with a match against the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-4), and despite the visitors making 48% from downtown, they dominated the second half to win, 137-114.
The first quarter swung back and forth as both teams traded runs. Minnesota drew first blood, with OAKAAKUYOAKs Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo stretching the floor and drilling from deep. The Knicks operated their offense through Karl-Anthony Towns in the post and relied on Mitchell Robinson’s glass work to stay close. Each side built modest leads, but neither could sustain separation.
The Wolves’ perimeter accuracy gave them an early edge, while New York’s interior strength helped them wrap quarter one up by two.
In Q2, our heroes began to assert themselves physically. Towns’ inside scoring and rebounding, combined with improved ball movement from Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, helped the Knicks take control of the tempo. And it helps to have OG Anunoby on your roster:
Minnesota hit threes at a sizzling clip (12-of-23, 52% by halftime), but could not contain the Knicks in the paint, where the home team outscored them, 22–14. Both teams protected the ball well enough, with only eight turnovers apiece, and the game moved sooo much faster than Monday’s slog against the Wizards. By halftime, the Knicks’ advantage on the boards (21–17 overall, eight o-boards) helped keep them within four at the break, 58-54.0
In the third, New York poured gas on the court and lit a match, winning the frame 40-28. Robinson and Hart always play better with chips on their shoulders, and they both electrified the Garden faithful as the Knicks pulled away. Josh netted the fourth of his three-pointers tonight (18 points, 27 minutes0, Mitch was a madman on both ends (nine offensive rebounds, eight points, three blocks), and OG methodically added film clips to his application for the All-NBA team (25 points, eight boards, two steals, and a block in 32 minutes).
Here’s an early entry of Sequence of the Year: Mitch dunks a putback! Mitch gets back! Mitch swats!
Up 94-86 with 12 minutes to go, the Knicks were functioning too smoothly to give away their victory. The Wolves growled a little, but the ‘Bockers just laughed and laughed. And why not? They won the second half, 83-56.
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