Game three of the Timberwolves’ preseason saw the reunion of familiar faces. For the first time ever, Karl Anthony cities went to court against the Timberwolves. After nine seasons at Target Center, Towns was unexpectedly torn away from his teammates and a city with which he had developed a deep connection. Before the game, Anthony Edwards met his former vice president.

The “Julius Randle Watch remains as the forward was inactive for today’s contest and veteran point guard Mike Conley was also given the night off. The Knicks’ preferred starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns were all in action and ready to show why they are so feared in the NBA.

From the opening tip, the feel of the game far exceeded what you would expect from a preseason game. The Wolves played the field with intent with their improved speed and rarely fell into the stickiness that was an unfortunate part of the 2023-2024 roster. The Knicks’ first possession on offense put the ball in Towns’ hands while Rudy Gobert prepared to attack on the perimeter. Towns’ retreating three-pointer clattered off the iron, but the duel left the Timberwolves faithful on the edge of their seat.

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In the meantime, Jaden McDaniels committed three quick fouls in the first three minutes, disrupting Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch’s rotation plan. OG Anunoby broke out early, scoring 12 points in the first quarter while suffocating Minnesota at the point of attack. Just as the game began to spiral out of control for the visitors, a connection blossomed between them Donte DiVincenzo And Anthony Edwards drove the Timberwolves’ offense forward and forced the game to be a constant back and forth. With each response the intensity continued to increase.

After finishing the 2022-2023 season ranked 17th in offense, the movement and spacing within the Timberwolves offense was evident at Madison Square Garden. Edwards caught fire, he kept finding open shots and making them. It was a great sign for Minnesota as the rising fifth-year star showed his development into a deadly shooter. Edwards took the lead in the second quarter by shooting 4 of 5 from distance and totaling 14 points as Minnesota took a 57-55 lead at the break.

Edwards picked up where he left off in the second half, finishing the game with 31 points and leading the Wolves offense in just 27 minutes of play. After Edwards’ night was over, the Knicks finally began to impose their will while the Wolves struggled to find consistent answers. beginner Rob Dillingham struggled to adjust to the physicality of the game while foul trouble arose Naz Reid and McDaniels left the Wolves with limited options for consistent offense. The Knicks were suffering a 115-110 defeat when the final siren sounded and small fireworks were set off to boot.

Key insights

Edwards and DiVincenzo fade into the backcourt

In his return to Madison Square Garden, Donte DiVincenzo stunned as he laid out exactly why the Timberwolves had been in the hunt for the No. 0 pick for so long. He went 6 of 11 from the field and scored 15 points. In doing so, he demonstrated his ability to create his own offense and put pressure on the rim. His constant threat as a sniper coupled with his ability to create his own look within the arc is a game-changer for the Timberwolves’ offense. Tonight it was his connection with Anthony Edwards that stole the show.

In the 2024 playoffs, the Timberwolves often lacked offensive shot creation outside of Edwards. While the All-NBA talent always answered the bell, the series of hard shots inevitably diminished the efficiency of his offensive possessions. DiVincenzo’s ability to use his shooting power to pull defenses away to find open passing lanes is a way for Edwards to get clean looks in the flow of the offense. Their connection should excite you because improving Anthony Edwards’ efficiency is the path of least resistance in improving his scoring averages.

DiVincenzo has certainly endeared himself to Wolves fans who may still have an opinion about their former president of basketball operations and head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Josh Minott plays heavy minutes

At the beginning of the year there were few fans Josh Minott Play rotation minutes on their bingo cards. In three preseason games, Chris Finch continues to rely on Minott to replace his substitutes. Tonight, Minott was the second player to come off the bench and played a total of 26 minutes while showing a well-rounded game. Previously, Minott had shown confidence from deep, scoring five of seven from three against the Lakers and 76ers. Despite cooling off from deep tonight, Minott found a way to contribute, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out three assists.

Minott’s length proved problematic on the boards as the self-proclaimed “lawnmower” wreaked havoc on the court. Minott’s ability to contribute during a cold shooting night is remarkable, and it’s clear the Timberwolves coaching staff shows confidence in the 21-year-old forward.

Timberwolves play with pace

During the 2023-24 season, it was common for the offense to get stuck in iso-ball with limited movement or spacing. After three preseason games, it is obvious that the Wolves wanted to adapt their offensive strategy. Intentional off-ball movements are quickly becoming a staple. Paired with the addition of a true movement shooter in DiVincenzo, the Timberwolves look like a team that has found the rest of their playbook.

Losing size in favor of shooting and speed may hurt the Timberwolves’ ability to hold onto their No. 1 defensive end, but the added offense is a sight to behold. The fact is that Minnesota would never take the final step as long as they held the 17th ranked offense. The Timberwolves’ goal is to improve their offensive rating to a top-10 unit by creating open shots through movement and off-ball shooting.

Dillingham doesn’t affect the pace of the game either. The young guard struggled with the Knicks’ physicality but remained decisive in his decision-making. Unfortunately this resulted in him getting caught in the air a few times, it’s an important lesson for the young player.

Game highlights

Box score

Next

The Timberwolves continue their preseason preparation as they play on the road Chicago Bulls To Wednesday, October 16th at 7:00 p.m.