It’s rare for two NBA title contenders to engage in blockbuster trades with one another. It’s even rarer for the teams involved to meet so soon after a mega-deal.
Yet here we were: The Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves, just 16 days removed from their seismic swap—sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns—facing off at Madison Square Garden on a Sunday evening in the preseason.
Preseason games are typically overlooked.
In this case, neither the Knicks nor Timberwolves played their starters in the final quarter, reinforcing the idea that these matchups are about getting reps, not results.
But for both teams, this wasn’t just another exhibition. It was a chance to begin establishing the identity of their new-look rosters.
The first three quarters mattered, a lot.
While the final score — a 115-110 victory in favor of New York — might be forgotten, the battle between the Knicks’ revamped lineup and the Timberwolves’ newly retooled roster signaled the early stages of two contenders adjusting to life after a blockbuster trade.
Of course, there were key differences for both teams.
Randle, still recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery, hasn’t played this preseason and is expected to play a significant role for the Wolves once healthy. Veteran guard Mike Conley also rested, leaving DiVincenzo to start alongside franchise star Anthony Edwards and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Meanwhile, the Knicks continue to work through the growing pains of their revamped starting five. Out went Randle and DiVincenzo, replaced by Towns and Mikal Bridges—two key pieces in a new-look lineup alongside Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart.
SUPERSTAR SHOOT-OUT
The Knicks made a bold move this offseason, parting with multiple picks to land Bridges, in part due to the defensive potential of pairing him with Anunoby.
Wolves head coach Chris Finch praised the Knicks’ roster construction before Sunday’s game.
“How can you not like this team? They’ve got two-way players all over the place. That’s what you’ve gotta have today in the game to win today at a high level,” said Finch of the Knicks’ active offseason. “They have great versatility, they’re gonna spread you out. They’ve got their toughness. They’re super well-coached. I think those guys naturally fit into Tom’s personality and system. As a coach, OG I always loved him, he’s such a weapon defensively. Yeah I think they’ve done an amazing job evolving this roster. To me, they’re right there.”
Yet, the Knicks’ defensive duo faced their toughest challenge in Minnesota’s Edwards, who erupted for 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 8-of-13 from deep, in 27 minutes.
Despite their credentials, neither Anunoby nor Bridges could contain Edwards, underscoring the challenge of guarding a player who could be the face of the league in years to come.
“It’s not just Anthony,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff. “He’s one of the best players in the league, but our entire team. That’s one of the best teams in the league, so it’s a good test for us.”
Brunson was unfazed by Minnesota’s top-ranked defense from last season.
He put up 24 points in 24 minutes, shooting 6-of-13 from the floor, but it was his efficiency at the foul line—going 11-of-13—that did the most damage. Anunoby added a preseason-high 19 points, matching Brunson’s 6-of-13 shooting, while Bridges chipped in 15 points. Hart, meanwhile, didn’t take a single shot. Overall, the Knicks’ starters combined to shoot 46 percent from the field, showing solid offensive chemistry but leaving room for improvement.
TOWNS STILL SEARCHING
The Knicks acquired Towns for his ability to space the floor, but he’s still looking for that signature shooting performance from beyond the arc.
Against his former team, Towns posted a solid stat line with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and three steals, yet continued to struggle from deep. He went just two-of-six from downtown and is now 4-of-18 from three in his early days with New York.
While the shot isn’t falling yet, the Knicks remain confident in his ability to stretch the floor and open up their offense. Towns has connected on 40 percent of his threes or better in five of the last seven seasons.
THREE-HEADED MONSTER
The Knicks’ second unit divides ball-handling duties between veteran point guard Cameron Payne and the sharp-shooting duo of Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, creating what Thibodeau believes is an underrated attack off the bench.
McBride, who missed the previous game due to illness, returned on Sunday with 12 points, while Payne added another 12 points and three assists, showing his veteran poise. Shamet rounded out the trio’s contributions with 13 points. Together, the three guards combined for 37 points and eight assists, providing a significant spark as the Knicks’ starters rested.
NEXT UP
The Knicks have two more preseason games before the regular-season opener in Boston against the Celtics on Oct. 22. They face the Hornets again on Tuesday before traveling to Washington, D.C. for the finale against the Wizards on Friday.