Anthony Edwards walked into Madison Square Garden and looked every bit like a player who’s already flipped the switch toward the regular season.
The Minnesota star scored 26 points Monday night, and the Timberwolves rolled past the New York Knicks 122-104 to move to 3-1 in the preseason. New York fell to 0-3, another rough night for a team still trying to find its footing before the games start counting.
Edwards was the headliner, but Minnesota’s edge came from the group behind him. Jaden McDaniels chipped in 22 points, and the Timberwolves were sharp from deep all night, finishing 18-of-34 on 3-pointers. New York didn’t come close to matching that pace, hitting just eight of its 32 attempts from beyond the arc.
The gap showed up early and kept widening. Minnesota controlled much of the game with perimeter shooting and steady scoring across the roster, and Edwards delivered the kind of highlight that sticks with a crowd - a long buzzer-beating 3-pointer to close the first half and send the Timberwolves into the break up 62-50.
The NBA shared the shot on its social channels, and it was the kind of moment that fit the night: Edwards in rhythm, Minnesota in command.
New York got 20 points from Jalen Brunson, but the offense never quite found a steady gear. The Knicks’ preseason skid now includes losses to Philadelphia and Washington, giving them three straight exhibition defeats.
After the game, coach Mike Brown said he has deliberately kept the offense fairly basic during the preseason. That setup gives the staff a chance to see how players handle simple actions and what happens when opponents know what’s coming, which helps explain some of the sloppier stretches.
Still, the Knicks will want better timing soon. They’re scheduled to face Toronto on Tuesday, so the turnaround comes fast.
For Minnesota, though, Monday night was another clean reminder of what this group can look like when the shots fall. Edwards keeps driving the offense, the supporting cast is producing, and the Timberwolves head toward opening night looking confident.
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Knicks May Have To Sacrifice A Fan Favorite To Keep This Core Together
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McBride, in particular, sits at the center of that calculus because his situation gives New York options at a time when options matter. The Knicks may want to preserve as much continuity as possible, but their financial constraints could force them to think in terms of trades and timing, and that is why his name keeps surfacing as the kind of move that can help balance the books without changing the whole identity of the roster. [Read more 🡒]