Game Preview #26 – Timberwolves vs. Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns returns to the Target Center in the season’s first meeting between the Knicks and Wolves. Can Minnesota keep things rolling against their former All-Star?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks
Date: December 19th, 2024
Time: 8:30 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: TNT/TruTV/Max
Radio Coverage: KFAN/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

In the immortal words of The Rock: Finally… Karl-Anthony Towns has come back to Target Center!

Yes, Wolves fans, it’s happening. After the blockbuster offseason trade that sent the former face of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, Karl-Anthony Towns is making his long-awaited return to Minneapolis. Cue the waterworks, the highlight reels, and probably a standing ovation. Towns was a foundational piece for the Wolves for years, and his contributions shouldn’t be overlooked.

But once the hugs are over, the highlight packages fade, and the fans take their seats, it’s all business. The Wolves are on a roll, winning six of their last seven games. With December turning into a critical stretch in their schedule, they need to keep the momentum going. The Knicks are no slouch, sitting firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, and this game will test just how far Minnesota has come since their early-season struggles.

The Stakes: More Than Just a Reunion

Make no mistake: this game isn’t just a nostalgia trip. It’s a crucial matchup for both teams. The Wolves sit at 14-11, barely clinging to the seventh seed in a brutal Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Knicks are surging in the East, and you can bet Tom Thibodeau has had this one circled on the calendar.

Minnesota needs this game. Why? Because the schedule doesn’t get any easier. After facing the Knicks, they’ll rematch the Warriors, battle the surging Hawks, and square off against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks on Christmas Day. That’s the kind of gauntlet that can sink a team—or solidify it as a contender.

Keys to the Game: Defense, Ball Movement, and Containing KAT

What’s changed for Minnesota over the last seven games? It’s simple: defense. Remember the turnstile defense from October and November? Gone. This Wolves squad has been locking teams down, routinely holding opponents to the low 90s or even the 80s. That’s not just good defense; that’s elite defense.

Jaden McDaniels has been a revelation, using his length and athleticism to frustrate wings. Yes, he’s still a little foul-prone, but his energy sets the tone. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been a menace on the perimeter, and Rudy Gobert is back to being the paint-dominating anchor the Wolves envisioned when they traded for him. Even Julius Randle has managed to avoid looking like a statue and is starting to buy in on the defensive end, which might be the biggest shock of all.

Against the Knicks, the priority is clear: smother Jalen Brunson and make life miserable for Karl-Anthony Towns.

• Brunson: The Wolves’ wings need to swarm him, limit his driving lanes, and contest every jumper. Brunson’s been an offensive force this season, so it’ll take disciplined defense to keep him in check.
• Towns: KAT is going to get his points—that’s a given. But the Wolves have three big bodies to throw at him: Gobert, Randle, and Naz Reid. They don’t need to shut him down completely; they just need to make him work for everything.

On the offensive end, it’s all about ball movement. When the Wolves move the ball and avoid isolation-heavy possessions, they’re nearly impossible to stop. Anthony Edwards is at his best when he’s attacking in rhythm, and when players like DiVincenzo and McDaniels are hitting open threes, this team is lethal.

The Emotional Factor

Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: emotions will be running high. KAT spent years in Minnesota, growing into a franchise cornerstone. He’s beloved by the fans, and the standing ovation he’ll get pregame will probably rival anything we’ve seen at Target Center this year.

But once the ball tips, emotions need to take a backseat. Towns got the better of the Wolves in their preseason matchup, but this game counts. The Wolves need to set the tone early, use their size advantage, and keep the Knicks off-balance.

Looking Ahead: The Wolves’ Path to Contention

The Wolves have been a Jekyll-and-Hyde team all season. October and November were defined by squandered potential, careless turnovers, and defensive lapses. But December has been a different story. They’ve been blowing out good teams, stifling offenses, and playing like the contender we all thought they could be when they traded KAT.

The challenge now is consistency. This seven-game stretch has been impressive, but it’s just the start. The Wolves have the talent to not just make the playoffs but to contend for a top-four seed. They’ve got size, depth, and a star in Edwards who can take over games.

But talent alone won’t cut it. They need to keep playing team basketball, avoid the hero-ball pitfalls, and bring that defensive intensity every single night. If they can do that, the sky’s the limit.

Final Thoughts

So, here we are: the KAT homecoming game. It’s going to be emotional. It’s going to be intense. And it’s going to be a big test for a Wolves team that’s finally finding its groove.

Let’s give Karl-Anthony Towns the standing ovation he deserves. And then let’s hope the Wolves hand him and the Knicks a loss they’ll be thinking about all the way back to New York.

Because for the Wolves, this isn’t just another game. It’s a chance to prove that December isn’t a fluke, that this team has turned a corner, and that they’re ready to make some serious noise in the Western Conference.

Let’s go, Wolves. The climb continues.