Wolves Shred Knicks with the 3 Ball. Minnesota 116 NY 99

Jalen Brunson to Josh Hart. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Timberwolves hit the 3 ball all night to rip the Knicks apart, 116-99, on a Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns, and missing his mojo and firepower, were trailing by single digits all night — and by 3 points entering the 4th quarter — but every time they tried to take control of the game — Minnesota would hit another killer 3.

Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels, and Anthony Edwards all hit one or more Killer 3’s in the 4th quarter — often as the shot clock was about to expire — pushing the Knicks away every time they appeared to be taking control.

Minnesota shot 55 percent (22-40) from 3 for the night, while NY wasn’t too shabby at 41.2 percent from 3 (14-34).

It was Julius Randle‘s first time back at Madison Square Garden. He received cheers, but then went out and distributed all night — he only took 6 shots, going 2-6 for 8 pts, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and a +20 in 35 minutes. Some of that was due to Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson stripping him on attempted drives — they knew his game and where to attack it. Randle had 4 turnovers.

“When you measure what you’re doing, there’s the attempts, what they make, and the percentage — there’s 3 components,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards about Minnesota’s 3’s. “And also what you’re doing — do you have the advantage or do they have the advantage? It’s pretty much been a wash all year.”

“We like to have the advantage in that,” added Thibs. “One thing is you have to generate your 3’s; you got to play fast in order to do that, and have to make the right reads. I want deep paint penetration and then I want a good decision when we’re in there. Like if there’s size or multiple people on the ball in that area, the play is: spray it. If you have a good angle to the basket then take it. The game tells you what to do.”

“We fell short tonite,” continued Thibs. “We have to bounce back. Nothing changes in how we approach things except that we have to learn from what happened and make the necessary corrections.”

NY falls to 27-16; Minny improves to 22-19.

1. Wolves Start Hitting the 3 Early

The Knicks had BLOWN OUT the Timberwolves in Minnesota a month ago, and so Minny was looking for revenge, and NY without Karl-Anthony Towns was vulnerable.

Minnesota jumped out of the gate with an 8-3 lead but the Knicks — led by Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges — struck back to take an 13-10 lead.

Minnesota counterpunched — Rudy Gobert hit consecutive dunks inside off Jericho Sims. Precious Achiuwa soon came in for Jericho and did a great job on Gobert the rest of the night. Precious ended up playing 36 minutes, with 6 pts, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.

Jericho was no slouch — playing well for 19 minutes. Gobert was limited to 6 rebounds in 34 minutes.

But Minny started hitting 3’s midway through the 1st quarter.

Mike Conley hit one, Naz Reid hit one, Conley hit another one, Anthony Edwards hit one, and at the end of the quarter Rob Dillingham hit one to give Minny a 28-19 lead.

2. Cam Payne ON FIRE in 2nd

Just as the 1st quarter ended, Cameron Payne came in and hit a floater at the buzzer to pull NY within 28-21.

As the 2nd quarter began, Payne was ON FIRE. He hit a drive, and then consecutive 3’s to pull NY to within 35-29.

Cam Payne sandwiched a Miles McBride deuce with a floater and another 3 to put NY up 39-37.

3. Minny by 4 at Half

But Minny kept hitting 3’s.

Naz Reid hit one, Anthony Edwards hit one, and after inside drives by Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid — Mike Conley hit one — and Minny was up 54-46.

By the end of the quarter, Naz Reid would hit another 3, and Anthony Edwards two more 3’s.

The Knicks kept pace, on scoring by Mikal Bridges, OG, and Josh Hart. A Josh Hart drive followed by a Bridges baseline jumper off an Anunoby assist pulled NY to within 4 at the half.

4. Minny by 3 After 3

The game was a dogfight in the 3rd — Minnesota maintaining a small single-digit lead throughout, with Anthony Edwards doing much of their scoring; the Knicks kept knocking on the door — with Jalen Brunson doing much of their scoring.

An OG Anunoby jumper off a Bridges assist, then 2 free throws by OG next time down tied the score 78-78 with 57 seconds left in the quarter.

But Naz Reid — guess what? — hit a 3 late in the shot clock with 33 seconds left in the quarter to give Minny back a 3-pt lead at 81-78.

5. Minny Keeps Hitting 3’s to Win It

The Knicks were down by 3 entering the 4th, and without Karl-Anthony Towns; you knew it would take a total team effort to win it. Precious Achiuwa played a great game all evening — and NY played tough down the stretch, but Minny kept hitting killer 3’s near the end of the shot clock.

  • The Knicks were down 83-80 with 10:40 left when Naz Reid hit a killer 3,
  • A minute later Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit a killer 3 from the corner,
  • NY pulled to within 91-87 on a Jalen Brunson drive with 8 minutes left, but Jaden McDaniels hit a killer 3, and Anthony Edwards dunked on a drive-and-1 for a traditional 3 and a minute later hit another 3 and it was 102-89 Minny with 5:40 left.
  • OG Anunoby fired back with a 3 but Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit yet another killer corner 3 with 3:47 left for a 107-94 Minny lead and ballgame.
  • Anthony Edwards hit Another 3 with 2 minutes left to rub it in.

Etcetera

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705144

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