Matchup: New York Knicks vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Scheduled Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024
Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network
The Minnesota Timberwolves (14-11) will host the New York Knicks (16-10) at the Target Center on Thursday.
The Knicks recently faced the Magic, securing a victory with a final score of 100-91. New York achieved a field goal percentage of 46.5%, sinking 33 of 71 shots, and executed 10 of 24 three-point attempts. At the charity stripe, the Knicks converted 24 out of 30 free throws for an impressive 80.0% success rate. They tallied 45 rebounds, including 7 offensive boards, and distributed 20 assists. Defensively, New York forced 15 turnovers and recorded 8 steals, while allowing Orlando to shoot 41.9% from the floor (36 of 86). The Magic registered 24 assists, 8 steals, and 39 rebounds (10 offensive, 29 defensive), managing a free throw accuracy of 76.9% by making 10 out of 13 attempts and hitting 9 of 30 from beyond the arc. The Knicks committed 16 fouls, in comparison to the Magic’s 26 fouls.
Jalen Brunson played a crucial role in the game, finishing with a shooting percentage of 44.4% from the field, 5 assists, and 31 points from 8 of 18 shooting over 38 minutes. He also contributed with 3 rebounds.
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Entering this matchup, the Knicks maintain a record of 16-10 for the season. They average 116.4 points per game, ranking 8th in the league, with a shooting percentage of 49.7%. New York shoots 39.4% from three-point territory (368 of 935) and boasts an impressive 80.8% from the free throw line. The team averages 42.4 rebounds and has 721 assists, placing them 10th in the league for assists per game. Additionally, the Knicks commit an average of 13.1 turnovers and 17.2 personal fouls in every game.
Defensively, the Knicks force their opponents into 13.0 turnovers and draw 18.8 personal fouls per game. They rank 12th in the league for opponent assists, allowing a total of 666. New York’s defense permits an opponent’s shooting percentage of 46.2% (1,056 of 2,286) and gives up 41.0 rebounds on average each game. They hold teams to 36.3% on three-point attempts and rank 9th in the NBA for points allowed per game, averaging 110.1.
The Timberwolves, in their latest game, emerged victorious with a score of 106-92 against the Spurs. In terms of rebounding, Minnesota conceded a total of 50 rebounds to San Antonio (12 offensive boards). The Wolves struggled from three-point range, shooting only 24.4% with 11 out of 45 makes. They also finished at the free throw line, going 7 for 9 (77.8%). The Timberwolves allowed the Spurs to shoot 40.7% from the floor, as they hit 37 of 91 attempts. By the end of the game, the Timberwolves shot 40% from the field with a total of 40 baskets out of 100. From three-point distance, they made 12 out of 35 shots (34.3%). At the charity stripe, Minnesota converted 14 free throws for an outstanding 87.5%. The Spurs committed 18 fouls, allowing the Timberwolves 16 free throw attempts. Additionally, the Timberwolves registered 11 steals and tallied 37 defensive rebounds and 14 offensive rebounds for a combined total of 51 rebounds.
Anthony Edwards made significant contributions in this matchup, scoring 26 points in 28 minutes, along with 2 assists. He achieved a shooting percentage of 47.6% by making 10 of 21 attempts and recorded 5 rebounds.
The Timberwolves currently hold a win-loss record of 14-11. They average 18.2 personal fouls per game and have a free throw percentage of 79.4%. The team averages 24.8 assists per game, ranking them 20th in the NBA, and they commit 16.0 turnovers per contest. Overall, Minnesota has accumulated 2,745 points this season, averaging 109.8 per game, and they pull down 42.8 rebounds per game. Offensively, they are shooting at a rate of 45.9%, ranking 18th in the league.
Minnesota’s defense allows opponents to shoot 33.3% from three-point range (291 of 875) and they rank 9th for free throw percentage allowed, with opponents hitting 78.8%. They give up an average of 23.8 assists and 43.0 rebounds per game, ranking 3rd and 9th respectively in the league. The Timberwolves’ defense is impressive, allowing only 105.6 points per game, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. They also force 16.1 turnovers per game while limiting opponents to a shooting percentage of 45.4% from the field (7th in the NBA).
Free Predictions: Bet on Minnesota (-2.5)
