Timberwolves-Knicks game preview: Broadcast info, odds and analysis
Chris Hine's breakdown: If the Wolves' strong defense can travel, they will have a chance for another road win.
January 1, 2024 at 12:23AM
![Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drove to the basket on Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32), and guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the fourth quarter Saturday December ,30, 2023 in, Minneapolis, Minn. ] JERRY HOLT • jerry.holt@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/WR4ZTP7Z4IRAHRQBCLSIRDIKBI.jpg?&w=712)
at New York Knicks, 2 p.m. Monday at Madison Square Garden
TV; radio: BSN; iHeartRadio app
Stats and analytics: Tap here.
Odds: Wolves by 1½ points.
Chris Hine's preview:
Opening bell: The Wolves left Minnesota immediately after Saturday's win over the Lakers to avoid having to deal with the logistics of getting to Manhattan on New Year's Eve. They'll face the Knicks Monday afternoon for the second time after beating them 117-100 at Target Center on Nov. 20. But the Knicks are different this time around after trading R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors for O.G. Anunoby.
Watch him: Jalen Brunson continues to improve for the Knicks. He's averaging 25.9 points per game on an uber-efficient 45% three-point shooting. Brunson is 12th in the NBA in offensive win shares, according to Basketball Reference.
Injuries: For the Wolves, no regular contributors were on their injury report. For the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson is out after left ankle surgery and Malachi Flynn is out because of a sprained right ankle.
Forecast: Monday's game is hard to handicap. How will the Knicks look assuming Anunoby plays? You might expect some adjustment in chemistry for the Knicks as they adapt to their new arrival. How will each team respond to a mid-afternoon start time, when they might otherwise be napping on a game day? The Wolves are still working through issues on offense, but their defense looked good against the Lakers. If that can travel, the Wolves will have a chance for another road win. If it doesn't, the Knicks are the likely winners.
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Chicago, which could be without Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball, has beaten the Wolves in their past five meetings at United Center.
