The New York Knicks struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor in their preseason matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, falling behind early and failing to mount a comeback. With the regular-season opener just a week away, the Knicks are still working to improve their defensive execution while evaluating their remaining roster options.
The team’s search for a third rotational big man remains a key storyline, with several players including James Wiseman, Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley competing for an opportunity to earn a spot on the roster.
Head coach Mike Brown acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, praising the talent among the group of centers competing for a roster spot.
“This is probably one of the most talented groups of centers I’ve been around. They’re all legitimate NBA players, and they all have a chance to make the team this season. They’re all great guys, and I can see each of them contributing in different ways. It’s not going to be an easy decision,” Brown said.
Brown also highlighted OG Anunoby’s versatility as an option at center in certain matchups, a role the Knicks experimented with last season.
“OG is big, strong and smooth. He’s a versatile athlete, and we played him there last year. Obviously, you have to account for guys like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but there are times when we can put OG on those guys. It’s not about changing his position permanently. He’s an All-Defensive player, and he’s extremely versatile, so we’re trying to use him that way,” Brown said.
Minnesota’s Perimeter Shooting Creates Separation
New York showed early defensive energy, generating steals and transition opportunities, but struggled to maintain that intensity throughout the first half. The Knicks had trouble finding consistent offense, while Minnesota capitalized on missed shots and defensive lapses to create open looks from beyond the arc.
Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Anunoby connected on important three-pointers to help keep the Knicks within reach. The bench also provided a spark in the second quarter, with José Alvarado generating defensive pressure and Pacôme Dadiet taking advantage of his opportunities from three-point range.
However, Minnesota continued to find success from the perimeter. Anthony Edwards repeatedly found open looks, including a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer that helped the Timberwolves take a 62-50 lead into the break.
The Knicks struggled to contain Minnesota’s outside shooting after halftime, while rebounding issues allowed the Timberwolves to generate additional scoring opportunities. Despite some encouraging stretches from the starters as well as the reserves who came in throughout the second half, New York could not put together a sustained run to get back into the game.
Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley provided a few positive moments late, showing their potential as the Knicks continued evaluating their bench options.
Mike Brown Stresses Defensive Execution
After the game, Brown pointed to Minnesota’s three-point shooting, the Knicks’ decision-making in the paint and their inability to finish defensive possessions as key factors in the loss.
Brown didn’t like how the starters ended the first half spending halftime watching the last three minutes of the second quarter. He challenged them to come out in the second half and execute the right way with the minutes they had left to play.
“From an execution standpoint, they hit a lot of threes in a short amount of time. They shot 53% from three, so at halftime, we watched the last three minutes of the first half, focusing on defense, to see what we could do better.
“Our starters were on the floor during that stretch, and I was frustrated with how we played defensively. They came out in the second half and executed the right way, which allowed them to win that six-minute stretch.”
“Overall, I thought we played well in spurts. We have to do a better job of touching the paint. Our guards took a lot of floaters and tough shots in the paint. We want to get around 20 sprays a game, and we had eight tonight. We had five in the first quarter, which was pretty good, but none in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth. We have to make better decisions when we get into the paint offensively.
“At the end of the day, our inability to box out and keep guys out of the paint on their drives made the difference in the ballgame.”
Looking Ahead
The Knicks travel to Toronto for the second game of their preseason back-to-back, with additional opportunities expected for reserves and players competing for roster spots with the starters planning to sit out.
With the regular-season opener approaching, New York will look to improve its perimeter defense, rebounding and offensive decision-making while continuing to evaluate its options. The remaining preseason minutes will be important as Brown works to finalize the rotation and prepare the team for the start of the season.
