Timberwolves 112, Knicks 110: “The type of game that keeps you up at night”
On the second night of a back-to-back homestand, the New York Knicks lost a second consecutive game to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 112-110.
Coming off of a disappointing, discouraging, disheartening loss to a LaMelo Ball-less Charlotte Hornets team, one where the New York Knicks scored just 87 points, most fans (myself included) were hopeful for a bounce-back win on Tuesday night.
Not that the Minnesota Timberwolves are a bad team, because to be quite honest, it looks as if they’ve finally found their identity and their stride, having won six of their last eight. But a common theme for the Knicks this season has been instilling confidence following bad losses.
After losing to the Orlando Magic in their third game of the season, they snapped a 15-game losing streak against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Following back-to-back losses against the Raptors and Pacers, they bounced back to mount a winning effort over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the reigning champs.
But most recently, in the immediate aftermath of scoring just 75 points against the Boston Celtics, New York put together a three-game winning streak.
So hell, why should we not feel confident that the Knicks could erase the memory of Monday night’s loss to the Hornets — one where they shot just a 40/35/52 split?
Because the team is as lost as a 3-year-old in a hardware store, separated from their parents, caught up in the bright lights and whirring gears among the light fixtures.
Every now and then they catch a glimpse of someone who looks like mom or dad, only to be disappointed and embarrassed when they find out they’re no less lost than before.
That’s why.
On the flip side of a back-to-back, New York did make an effort to come out with an improved energy against Minnesota — Kemba Walker’s returning presence was simply coincidental, I’m told.
And from the jump, it was clear Evan Fournier was feeling himself — a 3-point shot, followed by a layup, and subsequently an assist on a layup for Mitchell Robinson, gave the Knicks a 7-6 lead at the 9:53 mark of the first quarter.
And just shortly thereafter, Kemba hit his first jumper, a good sign in any case.
But as he tends to do, Karl-Anthony Towns proved too much for New York early on.
Mitchell Robinson had some nice moments on defense early on, but would quickly fade into bad habits.
This is the (or one of many) issue with the Knicks’ defense this season. Big men capable of shooting a three have proven a perpetual kryptonite.
I’m not sure how Tom Thibodeau prepped these guys and they weren’t ready for Towns to come out spraying from deep. The shot above gave him 11 points in the first and a 20-18 Timberwolves lead.
Immanuel Quickley would finally check in with just under two minutes to go, which seems late in comparison to the most recent trends. He missed his first 3-point attempt, and just moments later split a pair of free throws, preluding what would be a small role for him.
New York walked out of the first quarter down 30-23, with seemingly nowhere to go but up.
For the second game in a row, Obi Toppin started off the second quarter providing the Knicks with a boost in the effort and energy department. Within the first four minutes of the quarter, he’d already grabbed four rebounds, completed a cleanup bucket off of an RJ Barrett miss, and sunk a pair of free throws.
But if the first quarter was the Karl-Anthony Towns show, then the second quarter belonged to 2020’s first overall pick, Anthony Edwards.
His athleticism and quickness kept New York’s defense on tilt all night, but especially in the second quarter, setting up a number of makes for teammates Malik Beasley and Naz Reid.
Minnesota’s hot shooting and the Knicks’ inability to protect the basketball saw them fall into a 61-51 deficit at halftime.
It was at this point that I turned to my Strickland colleague Prez (who I was able to meet up with live to watch the game), providing the below analysis:
“As much as I felt good at halftime of yesterday’s game, I don’t think a comeback is in the cards.”
Since we’re giving quarter titles out to players in today’s recap, let me say this. Evan Fournier was fantastic through the first three quarters of this one. The third quarter was his.
But before that, it was Kemba who came out firing. He and RJ hit a pair of 3-pointers within the first minute of the second half, closing the gap between New York and the Timberwolves to just 61-57.
Moments later, Fournier would get a similar highlight of his own:
The $78-million Frenchman was everywhere, logging 13 points in the quarter and making his presence known on the defensive end, too.
That second 3-pointer gave the Knicks a 79-78 lead with four minutes to go in the third, stoking the fire that was their lone run of the game.
For what it’s worth, the Timberwolves went 11 minutes in between highlight tweets, going from the 9:16 minute mark to the 5:46 mark on the game clock. And while that may not sound like some incredible span, they tweeted 15 separate highlights between the first and second quarter. Vibes were indeed low.
New York walked into the final period with all the momentum on their side; a 91-86 lead, shots falling for Fournier from every angle, and Minnesota’s offense off its axis.
Edwards and D’Angelo Russell hit a couple of tough shots to open the fourth and tie the game, which the Knicks responded to by unleashing Cardiac Kemba.
Walker’s last 3-point make pushed the Knicks out to a 107-102 lead with 3:41 to go in the fourth, but a string of turnovers from Barrett and Fournier coupled with some questionable calls saw the Timberwolves take a 110-109 lead with 29.3 seconds remaining.
Randle missed one of two free throws shortly thereafter, putting the ball back in Minnesota’s hands, and ultimately another point by way of split free throws from Patrick Beverley.
Fournier took the ball to the rack and was blocked by Jaden McDaniels on the layup attempt, but the rebound was secured by Alec Burks, who missed a 3-pointer to seal the loss.
Final tally: bad guys 112, good guys 110.
Notes
There isn’t any way to start this other than citing Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin playing just nine minutes apiece. Close game or not, that’s ludicrous.
Despite his poor shooting from deep (0-4 on the night), I thought this was a solid game from Julius Randle. Think he could have taken more of the on-ball/initiator reps from RJ Barrett, but we’ll get to that.
Hello, darkness my old friend. After an initial strong start, Mitchell Robinson collected his fifth foul in the third quarter and ultimately fouled out with 6:29 left in the fourth.
Kemba flashed every reason why the Knicks should want him out there, and every reason why we shouldn’t in this one. He finished with 19 points, four assists, two rebounds, a steal, and just one turnover, but left a lot to be desired on the defensive end.
Quentin Grimes is fucking awesome.
Few things have made me happier this season than New York’s reluctance to include him in that trade for Cam Reddish. Can you imagine if he was doing stuff like this in an Atlanta Hawks uniform on the State Farm Arena floor?
Evan Fournier remains worth the money, in my opinion. If anyone else was capable of making shots like he was in this game, there’s a world where we’re talking about a different outcome from this game. No excuses for his wheels falling off in the fourth quarter, though, and I haven’t forgotten Monday’s dunk attempt.
Over the last two games, the Knicks have gone 35-54 from the free throw line. That’s 19 points they’ve left off the board in two games they lost by a combined 12.
I don’t know what to make of Alec Burks, who continues to be the ultimate enigma. Since his 34-point outing that saved New York from an embarrassing loss to the Detroit Pistons, he’s averaging: 9.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals, on a 31/30/90 shooting split. Perhaps he needs to be the technical shooter moving forward.
Miles McBride has been sent to Westchester to play with the team’s G League affiliate and New York is bringing Ryan Arcidiacono back (again) on a 10-day deal. I’d anticipate he gets minutes in whichever game he’s finally made available for.
It was cool to meet a fellow Stricklandian last night, Prez, who I messaged this morning:
Me: “God that game fucking sucked.”
Prez: “I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time thinking about it.”
Evan Fournier called this one “the type of game that keeps you up at night.”
Sounds about right.
