Minny win is Sweet

For once, Tom Thibodeau wasn’t the most stressed-out coach on the Minnesota Timberwolves bench.

That honor on Friday belonged to Rick Brunson, the former Knicks back-up guard whose son Jalen was leading Villanova to a come-from-behind victory over West Virginia while the Timberwolves were rallying in the second half to win a crucial game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

“I was getting the updates on my watch and at one point I was thinking, ‘we’re going 0-2 tonight,’” Brunson said following Minnesota’s 108-104 win. “That was one of the toughest things I’ve had to do.”

For the Brunson family the night was a win-win. The Timberwolves (42-31) clinched their first winning season in 13 years and are on pace to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2004. They are currently two games ahead of ninth place Denver.

All five Timberwolves starters scored in double figures led by Karl Anthony Towns, who finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Knicks with 39 points. Trey Burke added 15 and Frank Ntilikina scored 13 as the Knicks fell to 26-47.

The elder Brunson, who was on the Knicks team that reached the NBA Finals in 1999, plans to attend Villanova’s Elite 8 game in Boston on Sunday. “I’m glad there will be a game,” he said.

— Isola