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New York Knicks: Road trip blues start against Timberwolves

By Rob Wolkenbrod

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 10: Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket against the New York Knicks on March 10, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 10: Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket against the New York Knicks on March 10, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Continuing the late-season downward spiral, the New York Knicks fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first of a multi-game road trip.

Wins have obviously not arrived easily for the New York Knicks. That was never expected before this season started, when everything did not seem as bleak and even on the 18-game losing streak that set a franchise record.

Of course, the Knicks had a brief run around the All-Star break, but that was already three weeks ago. Probably to some fans’ desire, they have encountered another losing streak, and the draft lottery’s top odds remain in their favor, for now.

That leads into Sunday night’s game, which was the second half of a back-to-back, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. A tight first quarter kept this within reach, and while the Knicks outscored them 27-23 in the final period, it meant little, after what Taj Gibson and Jeff Teague did, combining for 45 points.

Again, it was a Knicks vs. Timberwolves game without Karl-Anthony Towns, who suffered an injury in his team’s previous game. He previously sat out their head-to-head in February due to a separate ailment.

This became another Damyean Dotson and Allonzo Trier night, as the players splitting the shooting guard role excelled for a combined 41 points on 8-for-14 shooting from behind the arc. Only two other players made three-pointers, and Dotson and Trier were the reasons this game was not absurdly out of reach.

Oh, and it’s always proper to point out Mitchell Robinson‘s latest five-block game. He played 32 minutes to DeAndre Jordan‘s 15, which is significant with both players healthy. Jordan struggled early against the Gibson-led frontline.

  • Emmanuel Mudiay‘s rough stretched continued, and it seems like a trend, rather than a blip on the radar. His four points in 20 minutes were a negative off the bench, and defense continues to be troublesome for the fourth-year man.
  • Kevin Knox‘s 45.5 percent shooting provided a steady night from the field. It came on 11 shots, so it was not the inefficient night that’s become an expectation for the 19-year-old rookie.
  • Henry Ellenson and Luke Kornet did not play due to coach’s decision. As Lance Thomas and Robinson back up Jordan and Noah Vonleh, it will be difficult for Ellenson and Kornet to develop meaningful minutes for the rest of the season.

Next. 25 greatest players in NYK history. dark

The New York Knicks have a day off, before returning to the court against the Pacers, in Indiana, on Tuesday, March 12, at 7:00 p.m. ET. That precedes a multi-day break, which this team could use amid this latest losing streak.

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