Donte DiVincenzo was out of his return to Madison Square Garden and Karl-Anthony Towns, uncertain, finally accompanied him on the absentee list. Without their starting pivot, and as they rely heavily on their five majors, the Knicks are very diminished and it shows from the first quarter. Mike Conley and Jalen Brunson respond to each other at 3-points but, even with a transparent Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, the Wolves are in front (21-28). After scoring at the buzzer moments earlier, Cameron Payne maintained his momentum in the second quarter. He then scored 16 points in less than five minutes!
Madison Square Garden is getting murky but Naz Reid takes it upon himself to cool it down with his award-winning baskets. He is accompanied by Anthony Edwards, who wakes up.
Without making a gap, Minnesota stays the course at the break (59-63). Same thing in the third quarter, despite OG Anunoby's points and a Wolves attack that became muddled. Everything will be decided in the last act (78-81).
The Wolves' defense then goes up a notch and as “KAT” is not there, the Knicks are deprived of a crucial weapon to find the way to the circle. Rudy Gobert is very present, around the circle but also up to the 3-point line if necessary, to counter and defend, and Chris Finch's troops are starting to really make the difference.
Particularly because Anthony Edwards' first quarter is now far away. The back shines, connects the baskets and as his teammates are impeccable at 3-points in this last quarter, Minnesota logically wins (99-116) in the “Big Apple”.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Julius Randle misses out on his return. The Wolves interior failed its game, it's as simple as that. Was he overcome by emotion? His first shot, at 3-point, did not hit the circle and he finished with only 8 points on 2/6 shooting, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. He lost 4 balls and never seemed aggressive, involved in this meeting, not imposing himself physically and missing simple things. He went through this match like a ghost.
– The Naz Reid – Anthony Edwards duo did very badly. Even if the guard was superb with 36 points, including 11 in the last quarter, 8/13 at 3-pts, 13 rebounds and 7 assists, it would be unfair to forget the contribution from the inside. With 23 points at 8/11 shooting including a perfect 6/6 at 3-pts and 8 rebounds in just 25 minutes, Reid dominated the Knicks without difficulty. With 59 points, this duo scored half of their team's points.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
