Knicks Triumph in Overtime Against Timberwolves
In an exciting matchup at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks secured a thrilling 100-95 overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, improving their preseason record to a perfect 3-0. Mikal Bridges showcased an impressive performance, leading the team with 15 points, hitting three of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. Jalen Brunson contributed 11 points to the effort. Despite being sidelined with an injury, Josh Hart‘s absence was somewhat mitigated by Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded a double-double in just 26 minutes of play. On the bench, both Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson turned in solid performances, each adding 10 points. The Timberwolves were paced by Anthony Edwards with 17 points and Julius Randle, a former Knick, who scored 16.
Game Highlights
The game unfolded with both teams demonstrating resilience and competitive spirit. The Knicks, although missing Josh Hart, maintained their starting lineup from the previous game, quickly setting an aggressive pace with a 7-2 run anchored by strong defensive plays. In response, the Timberwolves rallied with a 7-0 run of their own, highlighting the back-and-forth nature of the first quarter. Towns was particularly impactful early on, making aggressive drives to score and accumulate significant stats—five points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals—by the end of the first period. Meanwhile, Minnesota stars Randle and Edwards kept the scoreboard ticking, contributing nine and eight points respectively, giving the Timberwolves a slight lead of 21-20 by the end of the first.
As the game progressed into the second quarter, Knicks coach Mike Brown continued to experiment with player rotations, fielding nine players during the first half. Although the team’s shooting from three-point range was a struggle—starting just 2 for 14—New York did manage to keep the game close. Despite a late surge of offense from Brunson, who finished with a team-high 11 points by halftime, the Knicks trailed at the break, 44-38, with Edwards leading Minnesota’s scoring with 14 points.
Second Half and Overtime
The second half began with strategic tweaks as Brown inserted Guerschon Yabusele into the lineup and tested different configurations, including trying out a three-guard bench rotation. As the Knicks continued to struggle from distance, going 4-for-30 from three-point range for the night, they found some offensive rhythm late in the third quarter. Bridges sparked the team, with OG Anunoby contributing a three-pointer in a contested play against Rudy Gobert. However, the Timberwolves finished the quarter strong, primarily thanks to Naz Reid‘s buzzer-beating corner three that left them up 71-63.
In a pivotal fourth quarter, the Knicks began with their bench players, leading to a powerful 19-9 run that flipped their previous deficit, giving them an 82-80 advantage—this marked their first lead since the opening quarter. McBride emerged as a standout in this surge, sinking multiple jump shots as his teammates supported with crucial contributions. With the game tied at 90, Johnny Juzang of Minnesota drove for a bucket to even the score in the final seconds, after which the Knicks elected not to use a timeout. Garrison Mathews had the opportunity for a game-winning shot but could not convert.
The additional period saw the Knicks employ a lineup featuring Kolek, Mathews, Dadiet, Tosan Evbuomwan, and Hukporti. Their cohesive defense sparked an 8-0 run, allowing them to secure the victory.
Looking Ahead
The Knicks will look to continue their winning streak in the preseason as they prepare for their next game against the Washington Wizards on Monday, October 13, set for 7:30 p.m.
