(Field Level Media) Even without their optimal roster, the New York Knicks could not have fared better Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first meeting between the teams since their blockbuster trade signaled the Knicks’ shift to a championship-or-bust mentality.
The Knicks will hope for similar results Saturday, when they begin a potentially generous part of their schedule by visiting the New Orleans Pelicans in the final regular-season game between the teams.
Both teams were off Friday after playing on the road Thursday, when the Knicks routed the Timberwolves 133-107 and the Pelicans fell to the Houston Rockets 133-113. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks’ two big offseason additions, combined for 61 points Thursday — including 27 in the second quarter, when the Knicks took control by outscoring the Timberwolves 41-18.
Towns finished with 32 points and 20 rebounds in his first game back in Minnesota since being dealt to New York in a three-team deal Oct. 2 in which core Knicks Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle were sent to the Timberwolves.
“The way ‘KAT’ performed was ridiculous,” Knicks guard Jalen Brunson said of Towns, who played his first nine seasons with the Timberwolves. “So not much to say besides he came out there ready to play and we’re happy we got the win.”
The Knicks have a chance to extend their good mood into the new year. Five of New York’s next seven games through Jan. 1 are against teams that entered Friday ranked among the bottom four in the NBA in winning percentage.
After visiting the 5-23 Pelicans — whom the Knicks beat 118-85 on Dec. 1 — New York hosts the Toronto Raptors (7-21) on Monday before playing consecutive road games against the Washington Wizards (4-21) Dec. 28-30.
The Knicks open January by hosting the Utah Jazz (6-20) on New Year’s night.
The Knicks will hope their lineup grows deeper Saturday with the return of Josh Hart, who didn’t play Thursday due to personal reasons. Hart has posted two triple-doubles this season and is averaging 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
The injury-wracked Pelicans’ loss to the Rockets continued an extended skid. New Orleans has lost 20 of 22 since a 3-3 start.
New Orleans has fielded 17 lineups this season but has been able to utilize its optimal starting quintet of Brandon Ingram, Herbert Jones, C.J. McCollum, Daniel Theis and Zion Williamson just three times.
While McCollum and Jones are back from the injuries that cost them a combined 31 games, Theis was sidelined with a chronic neck injury Thursday and Ingram is out indefinitely with a left ankle injury suffered Dec. 14. Williamson hasn’t played since Nov. 6 due to a left hamstring injury.
The Pelicans set a season high in points allowed Thursday, when they fell behind 39-25 after the first quarter and never threatened the Rockets. New Orleans has lost 16 games by at least 10 points.
“It was too many moments where we worked our tails off to get back in it, and then we made a turnover here, a turnover there and they go back and score,” Hornets coach Willie Green said. “We’ve got to cut out the mistakes in those moments.”
