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Knicks vs. Timberwolves: How & Who to Watch as Final 10 Tip Off

The New York Knicks get one more home game at Madison Square Garden before March Madness kicks them out, as they welcome in the reeling Minnesota Timberwolves.

Geoff Magliocchetti

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"March Madness" has been an accurate description of not only the ongoing college basketball postseason proceedings but how the New York Knicks' month has transpired thus far.

The Knicks are currently experiencing the highs of March, operating on a three-game winning streak after dropping the prior trio and closing in on a guaranteed season extension with the opportunity to clinch at least an Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament spot this week. That path gets a lot easier if they win their only home game this week, a visit from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night before the latter stages of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament's East Regional take over The World's Most Famous Arena to produce one of the Final Four.  

Whereas the Knicks enters as winners of their last three and inching closer toward not just the Play-In but a spot amongst the East's six automatic qualifiers, the Timberwolves are struggling to keep pace in the Western Conference Play-In race. Minnesota has lost three in a row and five of its past six, including both ends of a back-to-back in Chicago and Toronto. Entering the week, the Timberwolves lead a three-way logjam for ninth place in the West, ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz (the latter being the odd team out) and a half-game ahead of No. 12 New Orleans.

This marks the second and final meeting between the Knicks and Timberwolves this season, with the former previously prevailing by a 120-107 final in Minneapolis in November. The Knicks will look to take the yearly pair from Minnesota for the first time since the 2016-17 edition. 

What: Minnesota Timberwolves (35-37) @ New York Knicks (42-30) 

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

When/Watch: Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG/MSG Go

Who's Favored: NYK -8

Keep An Eye On: Isaiah Hartenstein

As owners of one of the NBA's best records since the calendar flip to 2023, different heroes have risen for the Knicks on a nightly basis. Hartenstein has perhaps been one of the more undersung heroes even with his constant prescience (one of two New Yorkers, along with Julius Randle, to partake in all 72 games thus far), but his contributions have been increasingly noticeable the deeper the year goes. 

While Hartenstein continues to come off the bench, he continues to provide an undeniable spark, one that has earned him the crucial minutes in close games. In his past five, Hartenstein has pulled in nine boards a game, 3.2 of the offensive variety. The Knicks also own a plus-44 advantage when he's on the floor in that span, part of a plus-97 output over nine contests this month in total.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau lauded Hartenstein for the way he has drastically improved within this season, his first with the Knicks since coming over from the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I don’t know if it’s a change as much as he’s processed everything,” Thibodeau said, per Ethan Sears of the New York Post. “I think he’s a lot more comfortable. When a player comes in and he’s new, he’s adjusting to a new system and new teammates. So it takes a little bit of time.”

Timberwolf to Watch: Mike Conley

Minnesota's quest to build on a promising season, one that saw them prevail in the Play-In before giving the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies a six-game series, has been derailed by injuries. 

Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) is expected to be back at some point in their stretch run but he has been out since November. The Wolves' case went from bad to worse during Friday's loss to the Bulls, as Anthony Edwards was lost to an ankle injury that caused him to miss the trip to Ontario the day after, his first medical absence of the season. Edwards' top spell option, Jaylen Nowell (knee) is doubtful on the team's injury report.

Conley, a deadline arrival from Utah, could be called upon to be a stabilizing veteran prescience as the schedule dwindles down toward oblivion. His offensive efforts, to the tune of a team-best 28 points primarily built upon an 8-of-12 tally from three-point range, helped force two extra periods in the shorthanded holiday loss in Chicago. Conley sounded ready to accept further responsibilities on the offensive end until some of their more familiar talents return. 

"The more I've gotten to know the team and what they want from me, it seems more evident I got to be more aggressive and be looking to shoot more and looking for my offense," Conley told Chris Hine of Star Tribune. "Whether I make or miss shots, it's about me being assertive and aggressive. I think it opens up stuff for other guys. I'm going to continue to do that."

Prediction

These aren't your father's Knicks, these aren't your older brother's Knicks ... heck, considering how much has changed and improved since last week's loss to Charlotte at home, they're hardly even your Knicks. Previous Knicks teams would've felt due for a letdown, but it doesn't seem in character for this group to drop such a contest. The Knicks inch closer to the first stage of their postseason dream, taking advantage of the depleted and downtrodden Timberwolves, who have dangerous potential but relatively little firepower to work with for now

Knicks 109, Timberwolves 97

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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Geoff Magliocchetti
GEOFF MAGLIOCCHETTI

Editor-In-Chief at All Knicks

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