SHEEP IN WOLVES’ CLOTHING
Knicks get easy draw against depleted Minnesota, but still struggle for win
MINNEAPOLIS – Even with Julius Randle’s ugly performance, the Timberwolves stood as much of a chance as their owner’s Hall of Fame ballot.
Alex Rodriguez wasn’t in snowy Minnesota to witness his NBA team fall the Knicks on Tuesday night, 96-88, a contest that reiterated the absurdity of the NBA’s push to squeeze out every game — and every dollar — despite omicron’s potency.
The Timberwolves (16-18) aren’t exactly world beaters at full strength, and Tuesday they were missing their three top players due to prior or existing COVID-19 infections: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards.
They started players you couldn’t pick out of a G League roster, and the bench was even more nondescript. Minnesota was also playing on the second night of a backto-back after shocking the Celtics on Monday.
Still, the Knicks (1618) kept it interesting after blowing an early 17-point advantage, mostly because Randle plodded through a miserable 5-for-20 shooting night with four turnovers. He finished with 13 points and just two in the fourth quarter.
Other than Mitchell Robinson – who scored 14 points with 18 boards – the Knicks’ starters struggled. RJ Barrett, who had only recently returned from COVID-19 protocols, didn’t score until midway through the fourth quarter. He looked off but had enough solid moments down the stretch to feel encouraged.
“Once you see one fall, you kind of get going,” he said. “Hopefully it translates to (tonight against the Pistons) and the rest of the season.”
Kemba Walker, the Eastern Conference’s reigning Player of the Week, managed just two assists and 10 points in 33 minutes. The Knicks have depth, however, unlike the decimated Timberwolves. They’re on the other side of their COVID-19
outbreak and were only missing one rotational player (Nerlens Noel). They won the bench battle Tuesday behind Quentin Grimes and Taj Gibson.
“Right now it’s choppy. You’ve got guys in and out,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “But I thought our defense was really good.”
With omicron surging, Tom Thibodeau returned to wearing a mask for the first time this season and mostly kept it over his mouth while coaching. At least until the fourth quarter when it drifted toward the chin. Coaches across the NBA – including Rick Carlisle of the Pacers and Frank Vogel of the Lakers – have been hit with COVID-19 infections.
“I think what’s going on right now — you’re seeing everybody is getting their guard back up so you take every precaution that you can. And go from there,” Thibodeau said. “And hopefully this thing will be under control at some point. Hopefully.”
With last season’s matchup being held in an empty arena, it was Thibodeau’s first game in front of the Timberwolves crowd since he was fired by owner Glen Taylor in 2019. The sparse crowd booed Thibodeau during introductions, but otherwise ignored the only coach to take the franchise to the playoffs since 2004.
“Every boo is a cheer for me,” Thibodeau said with a smile.
Thibodeau’s downfall in Minnesota was mostly about fractured relationships with Taylor and Towns. He was also team president and negotiated the ill-fated trade for Jimmy Butler.
A lot has changed since Thibodeau was dumped. His replacement, Ryan Saunders, was fired last season. The latest coach is Chris Finch. Taylor has agreed to sell the franchise for $1.5 billion, with A-Rod’s group immediately owning 20% with a deal to assume majority shares in 2023.
Rodriguez, who is debuting on the baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot and likely won’t get the votes as a known steroid user, has been a frequent courtside spectator at the Target Center but was absent Tuesday. So were his best players.
And the Knicks took advantage.