Knicks Fail Down The Stretch Lose To Wolves

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

The New York Knicks (22-22) were looking to get back on the winning track after their lackluster performance Monday afternoon in their annual Martin Luther King, Jr game. They were outplayed by the Charlotte Hornets the whole game in the 97-87 loss as Hornets Miles Bridges who scored a career high 38 points.  

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves (21-22) came into Madison Square Garden having won 5 of their last 7 games. Second year head Tom Thibodeau, looking to get a spark out of his offense, reinserted guard Kemba Walker (missed 9 games with a knee injury) in the starting line-up. It wasn’t much help in the beginning. As they did in their previous game, New York would get off to a slow start as Minnesota took an early 23-18 lead. Wolves center Karl-Anthony Townes scoring 11 points. Minnesota finished the quarter with a 30-23 lead.

 

Shooting woes continued for the Knicks in the second quarter. The closest New York got was 7-points (34-27) and at one point fell behind by 11 (5-47) allowing the Timberwolves to shoot 50% from the floor. New York missed 12 3 pointers and things could have been much worse if Minnesota was able to hit their 3-pointers. They finished the half taking 25 missing 17 of them but took a 10 point (61-51) halftime lead.

 

 

 

 

 

Something lit a fire under the Knicks as they outscored Minnesota in the third quarter 40-25 with Eric Fournier scoring 9 points. Unfortunately, it didn’t carry over in the fourth as they could not put the pesky Timberwolves away.

 

Scoring the first 7-points to begin the final quarter, Minnesota takes a 93-91 lead. New York responds as RJ Barrett and Julius Randle combine for the next 7 as the Knicks took the lead back at 98-93. Walker then nails his next 3, 3-pointers putting the team up 107-102. 

 

New York would go ice cold in the last 3:40 and watched the Wolves close out the quarter on a 10-3 run leading to the 112-110 win. The Knicks did have a chance to send the game into overtime or win it outright but Fournier’s lay-up is blocked by Jaden Mc Donald. Alec Burks comes up with the ball but his 3-point shot hits the side of the rim at the buzzer. 

 

It was the second straight home loss for New York as they fell under .500 (22-23). Fournier led all scorers with 27 points. Randle added 21 and Walker 19. Timberwolves Anthony Edwards paced Minnesota with 21. 

 

Said Walker on his return, “I’m definitely a little disappointed that we didn’t get the win, my first game back in a while,” he began. “Definitely wanted to win. But we got to keep grinding it out. It’s hard to win a game in this league, super hard. No matter who you’re playing.”

 

The Knicks host the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday night before the Los Angeles Clippers come to town Sunday Afternoon.