Second Half Dooms Wolves in Loss to Knicks: 5 Things That Stood Out
The Timberwolves' defense and effort on the boards were lacking Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. After a promising start and a halftime lead, Minnesota faltered badly in the second half, falling 137-114 to the Knicks.
First Half Momentum Fades
The Wolves (4-4) opened strong with a 13-4 run and held a 58-54 advantage at the break. However, the momentum shifted quickly as the Knicks dominated the second half 83-56, capitalizing on Minnesota’s poor defense and inability to secure rebounds.
Knicks Take Full Control
New York created separation midway through the third quarter, and Minnesota failed to mount a comeback. The Knicks (5-3) displayed balanced scoring, with six players hitting double figures.
- OG Anunoby led the way with 25 points.
- Jalen Brunson contributed 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists.
- The Knicks shot 54% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc.
Wolves’ Efforts Not Enough
Despite shooting 48% overall and matching New York’s 19 three-pointers, Minnesota couldn’t overcome its defensive lapses. The Wolves even outperformed the Knicks at the free-throw line but lost the rebounding battle decisively.
“The big difference in this 23-point game came on the glass.”
Key Performances
- Julius Randle continued his impressive start to the season with 32 points against his former team.
- Anthony Edwards returned to action but made little impact offensively.
Stat Snapshot
- Rebounds and defensive stops were the deciding factors.
- Turnovers were relatively even: 14 for New York, 17 for Minnesota.
Author’s summary: Minnesota’s second-half collapse at MSG highlighted issues in defense and rebounding that overshadowed their solid shooting night in a tough loss to the Knicks.