Game Preview #41 – Timberwolves at Knicks

The Timberwolves head to New York to take on Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks. Can the Wolves pull out a much needed victory in MSG, or with Towns complete the clean sweep against his former team?

Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks
Date: January 17th, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM CST
Location: Madison Square Garden
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Wolves Face Crucial Test at MSG: Can They Finally Turn the Corner?

Wolves fans, here we are again. Another big game, another chance for this maddeningly inconsistent team to either light the fire of optimism or douse it completely. Tomorrow night, Minnesota heads to Madison Square Garden to take on the Knicks, and let’s be honest—this one feels personal.

The Knicks already have bested the Wolves twice since the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, including a blowout that turned into a KAT highlight reel on his return to Target Center. Add to that the Wolves’ most recent flop against Golden State, where they started the game looking like they were auditioning for Shaqtin’ A Fool, and it’s safe to say there’s plenty of urgency heading into this one.

The Golden State Letdown

Let’s talk about that Warriors game for a second because, wow, what a mess. The Wolves spent the first quarter sleepwalking through what might’ve been their worst 12 minutes of basketball all season. Twelve points. That’s it. Twelve. The kind of first-quarter output that has fans at Target Center checking StubHub for resale tickets by halftime.

And yet, somehow, they clawed their way back from down twenty-two. By the end of the fourth quarter, the Wolves had tied the game, only for Steph Curry to remind everyone why he’s Steph Curry. One clutch three later, the Wolves were sent packing with yet another could’ve-been win turned into a frustrating loss.

This has been the story of the season: flashes of brilliance for 36 minutes that comes undone by one disastrous quarter. It’s like the Wolves are trying to recreate the plot of Titanic every night—no matter how good things may see, we all know that iceberg is going to make its appearance eventually.

KAT, MSG, and the Revenge Game Narrative

Now, here come the Knicks. Even after notching a win at Target Center, you can bet Karl-Anthony Towns has this one circled. MSG is his stage tomorrow night, and he’ll want to defend his new home. The Wolves need to let him have his moments but not let him control the game.

What Minnesota Needs to Do

If the Wolves want to leave MSG with a win—and, let’s be clear, they absolutely need this win—they have to fix some fundamental issues that keep cropping up.

1. Avoid the Droughts

How many games are we going to lose to a six-minute scoreless stretch? It’s been the Wolves’ Achilles heel all season. Against the Warriors on Wednesday, it was the first quarter. In the last game against New York, it was the second. If Minnesota has another one of these meltdowns tomorrow night, the Knicks will run them out of the building.

Chris Finch needs to be proactive. If the offense stalls, call a timeout. Adjust the lineup. Do something. Don’t just let the team spiral into another drought.

2. Win the Battle in the Paint

The Wolves have the size advantage in this game, especially with Mitchell Robinson out for New York. Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle need to dominate the boards, clean up second-chance opportunities, and make sure the Knicks don’t have a layup line going at the rim.

If Towns wants to hang out beyond the arc all game, fine. Let him. Just don’t let him or anyone else feast in the paint.

3. Ant Needs to Be the Star

This is Anthony Edwards’ moment. MSG. Primetime. National spotlight. It’s time for Ant to remind everyone why he’s one of the league’s brightest young stars.

We saw a glimpse of that against Golden State. When the threes weren’t falling, he adjusted, attacking the basket and drawing fouls. The Wolves need that aggressive version of Ant, the one who puts his head down and gets buckets no matter the situation.

4. Clamp Down on Jalen Brunson

Brunson has been the engine of the Knicks’ offense all season, and if he gets rolling, it’s going to be a long night for the Wolves. This is where Jaden McDaniels earns his paycheck. McDaniels, along with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, has to make life miserable for Brunson—stay on him, fight through screens, and contest everything.

Why This Game Matters

Let’s talk big picture. The Wolves are teetering on the edge of relevancy in the Western Conference. They’re currently clinging to the eighth seed, but they’re one bad stretch away from sliding into play-in purgatory.

This game against the Knicks isn’t just about revenge or proving they can hang with playoff-caliber teams. It’s about setting the tone for a brutal upcoming stretch. After the Knicks, it’s the league-leading Cavs on the second night of a back-to-back, then road games against Memphis and Dallas. If the Wolves can’t pull out a win here, they could easily find themselves on another losing streak before they know it.

The Bottom Line

This is a must-win game. The Wolves have the talent to beat New York, even without Donte DiVincenzo. But talent alone isn’t going to get it done. They need focus. They need discipline. And they need Anthony Edwards to put on a show.

The Knicks are vulnerable. They’ve been inconsistent lately, and they’re missing key pieces. But this is still a dangerous team, and if the Wolves don’t bring their A-game, they’ll leave MSG with yet another what-could-have-been story.

It’s time for Minnesota to show us who they really are. Are they the team that can rise to the moment and make a statement? Or are they just going to keep reliving the same frustrating script?

We’ll find out tomorrow night in the world’s most famous arena. Here’s hoping they give us a performance worth remembering.