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NBA · Regular season

Minnesota Timberwolves vs New York Knicks: Preview and Stats

Minnesota Timberwolves 9-3
vs
New York Knicks 6-5
Target Center, Minneapolis

Our picks

Our picks for Minnesota Timberwolves vs New York Knicks come out after the official NBA injury report, at most 48 hours before tip-off, and at the latest (3 hours before tip-off).

We are waiting for the result of a team's previous game.

Our NBA model track record for this matchup

Our winner picks on these teams

  • Minnesota Timberwolves 8 of 12 right (67%)
  • New York Knicks 8 of 11 right (73%)

Settled NBA winner picks since 20 Oct 2026.

Game details

Stage
NBA, Regular season
Tip-off
Arena
Target Center
City
Minneapolis
Since last match
Minnesota Timberwolves: Portland Trail Blazers New York Knicks: Toronto Raptors
Next match
Minnesota Timberwolves: Memphis Grizzlies New York Knicks: Portland Trail Blazers

Missing production & availability impact

Share of last 10 games' offensive creation (PTS + AST) and minutes sidelined.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

New York Knicks

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Official NBA injury report

Minnesota Timberwolves

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

New York Knicks

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Expected 8-man core rotation

Projected starters and key bench from recent usage and the official injury report.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Projected Starters
  • F Jaden McDaniels
    33.9 MPG 17.1 PPG 6.2 RPG 3.9 APG
  • G Ayo Dosunmu
    31.6 MPG 18.7 PPG 4.4 RPG 3.2 APG
  • F Jonathan Kuminga
    30.4 MPG 12.6 PPG 5.9 RPG 2.7 APG
  • G LaMelo Ball
    27.9 MPG 19.0 PPG 3.2 RPG 6.4 APG
  • C Rudy Gobert
    28.9 MPG 7.6 PPG 11.4 RPG 1.4 APG
Key Bench
  • G-F Terrence Shannon Jr
    21.6 MPG 10.3 PPG 3.6 RPG 3.3 APG
  • F Trey Lyles
    18.9 MPG 6.2 PPG 4.0 RPG 0.8 APG
  • G Donte DiVincenzo
    24.1 MPG 10.4 PPG 0.0 RPG 0.0 APG

New York Knicks

Projected Starters
  • G Jalen Brunson
    33.3 MPG 26.5 PPG 2.9 RPG 5.4 APG
  • G-F OG Anunoby
    32.9 MPG 17.1 PPG 5.4 RPG 2.6 APG
  • F-C Karl-Anthony Towns
    32.1 MPG 21.1 PPG 13.7 RPG 3.8 APG
  • G Josh Hart
    31.1 MPG 7.4 PPG 6.9 RPG 3.9 APG
  • G Landry Shamet
    26.0 MPG 10.1 PPG 1.6 RPG 1.9 APG
Key Bench
  • G-F Mikal Bridges
    23.5 MPG 6.1 PPG 3.2 RPG 2.2 APG
  • G Miles McBride
    19.4 MPG 8.4 PPG 1.6 RPG 1.2 APG
  • C Andre Drummond
    12.4 MPG 3.5 PPG 7.5 RPG 1.1 APG

OptimaGoal power & pace ratings

Full NBA power ratings

Neutral-court net point rating and 48-minute tempo rank across all 30 NBA franchises.

Minnesota Timberwolves

#9 of 30
Net rating +3.3 30d: 0.0
Pace: -0.2 (#4 of 30)

New York Knicks

#7 of 30
Net rating +4.6 30d: -2.7
Pace: -4.6 (#30 of 30)

OptimaGoal tactical & efficiency profile (0–100)

Original 0–100 indices built from each team's last 10 played games before tip-off.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Net 81
Shot quality (TS%) 59
3PT volume & accuracy 58
Ball security & passing 27
Rebounding control 55
Defensive disruption 78

ORtg 114.3 · DRtg 103.4 · Net +11.0 · TS 59.1%

New York Knicks

Net 73
Shot quality (TS%) 43
3PT volume & accuracy 62
Ball security & passing 44
Rebounding control 74
Defensive disruption 57

ORtg 114.4 · DRtg 106.1 · Net +8.3 · TS 56.8%

Minnesota Timberwolves · Record vs point differential Stronger profile than W-L (bounce candidate) 9W actual vs 10.1W expected (12 GP)
New York Knicks · Record vs point differential Stronger profile than W-L (bounce candidate) 6W actual vs 7.8W expected (11 GP)

Halftime splits & clutch profile

Game-state outcomes and half-by-half scoring share over the last 15 games.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Win rate when leading at HT 9/11 (82%)
Comeback wins when trailing at HT 0/3 (0%)
Scoring split (1H vs 2H)
1H: 58.2 (49.8%) 2H: 58.6 (50.2%)
Clutch (≤5 pts / OT): 1-2 10+ pt margins: 8-3

New York Knicks

Win rate when leading at HT 6/9 (67%)
Comeback wins when trailing at HT 3/6 (50%)
Scoring split (1H vs 2H)
1H: 55.0 (50.6%) 2H: 53.7 (49.4%)
Clutch (≤5 pts / OT): 3-3 10+ pt margins: 5-0

Scoring environment and threshold hit counts across the last 10 games.

MINNYK
Points scored / game 118.6 111.3
Points allowed / game 107.2 103.2
Average game total 225.8 214.5
Average 1st-half total 111.4 106.6
Possessions / 48 min 102.7 97.3
Games with 220+ pts 7/10 3/10
Games with 230+ pts 3/10 2/10
Games with 240+ pts 1/10 2/10
Scored 115+ pts 7/10 3/10

Schedule density & travel spot

Rest days, multi-game compression and current home/road stretch entering tip-off.

Minnesota Timberwolves

1 day rest
1 in 4 nights 1 in 6 nights Homestand · Game 3

New York Knicks

1 day rest
1 in 4 nights 1 in 6 nights Road trip · Game 1

Primary offensive threats

Available rotation leaders by scoring and shot share over the last 10 games.

Minnesota Timberwolves

  • #1 LaMelo Ball G 16.0% pts share
    19.0 PPG · 3.2 RPG · 6.4 APG · 3.6 3PM 15.6% FGA
  • #2 Ayo Dosunmu G 15.8% pts share
    18.7 PPG · 4.4 RPG · 3.2 APG · 2.1 3PM 15.3% FGA
  • #3 Jaden McDaniels F 14.4% pts share
    17.1 PPG · 6.2 RPG · 3.9 APG · 1.3 3PM 15.3% FGA

New York Knicks

  • #1 Jalen Brunson G 23.8% pts share
    26.5 PPG · 2.9 RPG · 5.4 APG · 2.8 3PM 23.7% FGA
  • #2 Karl-Anthony Towns F-C 19.0% pts share
    21.1 PPG · 13.7 RPG · 3.8 APG · 1.8 3PM 15.9% FGA
  • #3 OG Anunoby G-F 15.4% pts share
    17.1 PPG · 5.4 RPG · 2.6 APG · 2.3 3PM 13.3% FGA

Last five games

Minnesota Timberwolves

  • W 133-94 vs Dallas Mavericks (H) 13 Nov
  • W 115-100 vs Utah Jazz (H) 9 Nov
  • W 115-109 at New Orleans Pelicans (A) 7 Nov
  • W 117-107 at Houston Rockets (A) 5 Nov
  • W 112-100 vs Milwaukee Bucks (H) 3 Nov

New York Knicks

  • L 107-115 vs Cleveland Cavaliers (H) 12 Nov
  • W 117-85 vs Milwaukee Bucks (H) 11 Nov
  • W 109-97 at Cleveland Cavaliers (A) 8 Nov
  • W 135-105 vs Chicago Bulls (H) 5 Nov
  • W 103-90 vs Brooklyn Nets (H) 3 Nov

Most recent first, all games of the season, overtime included.

Last 10 head-to-head meetings

MIN · 5W NYK · 5W
Avg total pts: 226.7 MIN avg: 112.2 NYK avg: 114.5 225+ pt games: 4/10 MIN at home: 2-3
  • 23 Dec 2025 MIN 115‑104 NYK
  • 5 Nov 2025 NYK 137‑114 MIN
  • 17 Jan 2025 NYK 99‑116 MIN
  • 19 Dec 2024 MIN 107‑133 NYK
  • 1 Jan 2024 NYK 112‑106 MIN
  • 20 Nov 2023 MIN 117‑100 NYK
  • 20 Mar 2023 NYK 134‑140 MIN
  • 7 Nov 2022 MIN 107‑120 NYK
  • 18 Jan 2022 NYK 110‑112 MIN
  • 28 Dec 2021 MIN 88‑96 NYK

Season profile comparison

MINNYK
Record 9-3 6-5
At home 5-1 4-3
On the road 4-2 2-2
Conference 4 of 15, Western Conference 5 of 15, Eastern Conference
Streak Won 5 in a row –
Days of rest 1 1
Our team rating #9 of 30 #6 of 30
Pace #4 of 30 #30 of 30

Inter-conference matchup — both conference tables shown with Play-off (#6) and Play-in (#10) cut lines.

Western Conference standings

Full NBA standings
# Team W L PCT GB Home Road L10 Streak
1 Los Angeles Lakers 11 2 .846 – 5-1 6-1 8-2 W7
2 San Antonio Spurs 10 2 .833 0.5 4-2 6-0 10-0 W10
3 Houston Rockets 9 3 .750 1.5 6-1 3-2 7-3 W2
4 Minnesota Timberwolves 9 3 .750 1.5 5-1 4-2 7-3 W5
5 Portland Trail Blazers 8 3 .727 2.0 3-2 5-1 7-3 W2
6 Golden State Warriors 8 4 .667 2.5 6-1 2-3 8-2 L1
7 Oklahoma City Thunder 8 4 .667 2.5 5-0 3-4 6-4 L2
8 Memphis Grizzlies 7 4 .636 3.0 2-4 5-0 6-4 L1
9 Denver Nuggets 6 4 .600 3.5 3-2 3-2 6-4 W1
10 Dallas Mavericks 7 5 .583 3.5 5-2 2-3 6-4 L1
11 Phoenix Suns 5 6 .455 5.0 5-3 0-3 5-5 W2
12 New Orleans Pelicans 4 8 .333 6.5 3-4 1-4 4-6 L4
13 LA Clippers 2 8 .200 7.5 2-3 0-5 2-8 L1
14 Sacramento Kings 1 10 .091 9.0 0-6 1-4 1-9 L4
15 Utah Jazz 1 11 .083 9.5 1-6 0-5 0-10 L10

Solid cut lines mark Top 6 (direct Play-offs) and Top 10 (Play-in Tournament).

Eastern Conference standings

Full NBA standings
# Team W L PCT GB Home Road L10 Streak
1 Boston Celtics 10 2 .833 – 5-0 5-2 9-1 W5
2 Philadelphia 76ers 10 3 .769 0.5 5-2 5-1 7-3 W1
3 Detroit Pistons 8 3 .727 1.5 3-2 5-1 7-3 W2
4 Atlanta Hawks 7 5 .583 3.0 3-3 4-2 5-5 L1
5 New York Knicks 6 5 .545 3.5 4-3 2-2 6-4 L1
6 Cleveland Cavaliers 6 6 .500 4.0 4-2 2-4 5-5 W1
7 Miami Heat 5 6 .455 4.5 1-3 4-3 5-5 W2
8 Toronto Raptors 5 7 .417 5.0 2-3 3-4 3-7 L3
9 Orlando Magic 4 7 .364 5.5 0-4 4-3 4-6 W2
10 Charlotte Hornets 4 8 .333 6.0 3-4 1-4 3-7 L1
11 Indiana Pacers 4 8 .333 6.0 1-4 3-4 3-7 W1
12 Washington Wizards 4 9 .308 6.5 2-3 2-6 2-8 L6
13 Brooklyn Nets 3 8 .273 6.5 1-3 2-5 3-7 W1
14 Chicago Bulls 1 9 .100 8.0 0-4 1-5 1-9 L8
15 Milwaukee Bucks 1 11 .083 9.0 1-6 0-5 1-9 L8

Solid cut lines mark Top 6 (direct Play-offs) and Top 10 (Play-in Tournament).

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