The Knicks and Timberwolves had nearly identical seasons last year, both falling in the conference finals. However, on Wednesday night, the Knicks demonstrated a clear gap in performance by defeating the Timberwolves 137-114 at Madison Square Garden.
This game offered the clearest glimpse yet of the Knicks' ceiling under coach Mike Brown’s system. Despite a slow start from Jalen Brunson, the team showed balanced scoring and effective ball movement that excited the fans.
This victory improved the Knicks' record to 5-3 overall and an unblemished 5-0 at home, marking their best home start since 2012. It was also their third meeting with the Timberwolves since a major trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle, and Donte DiVincenzo, with the Knicks having won two of those three games.
“It’s a big win versus a really good team,” Brown said. “It’s well coached.”
Notably, the Knicks converted a three-game losing streak into a three-game winning streak, showcasing their growing momentum.
Author's summary: The Knicks demonstrated significant growth and balance in their play, signaling a promising future as Mike Brown's system takes full effect.