Second half dooms Wolves in loss to Knicks: 5 things that stood out
The Timberwolves struggled defensively and on the boards during the second half at Madison Square Garden, resulting in a 137-114 defeat to the Knicks on Wednesday. Minnesota jumped to a quick 13-4 lead and led 58-54 at halftime, but the home team dominated the final two quarters with an 83-56 run.
The Wolves had difficulty stopping the Knicks and securing rebounds on defense, allowing New York to pull away midway through the third quarter. Minnesota was unable to build momentum and close the gap in the second half.
Key performances
- OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 25 points.
- Jalen Brunson contributed 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists.
- Four other Knicks players scored in double figures.
- Julius Randle scored 32 points for the Wolves against his former team.
- Anthony Edwards had a quiet return to action.
Team shooting and turnovers
Both teams shot efficiently. The Knicks hit 54% of their shots and 45% from three-point range. The Wolves shot 48% from the field, matched New York’s 19 made threes, and had more trips to the free throw line.
Turnovers were relatively close with 14 for New York and 17 for Minnesota. The decisive factor was rebounding, which led to the Knicks pulling away decisively in the second half.
"The second half belonged to the home team. The Knicks won the final two quarters by a combined 83-56 score, largely because Minnesota struggled to get any stops or finish defensive possessions with a rebound."
Author's summary: The Timberwolves’ solid first half collapsed due to poor rebounding and defense in the second, allowing the Knicks to pull away decisively at Madison Square Garden.