Knicks Look for Their First Preseason Win as Timberwolves Visit the Garden

Rest decisions and rotation experiments will shape this preseason meeting at Madison Square Garden.

MIN @ NYK Oct 12, 2026 at 11:30 PM UTC

Records mean little in October, but the Timberwolves (2-1) and Knicks (0-2) meet at Madison Square Garden with real questions about who will play and for how long. This is a preseason game, so rotations matter more than the result.

New York has been consistent where it counts. Mike Brown has stayed with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns as his opening five, using the games to shake off rust. The most recent preview, for the Oct. 8 Wizards game, expected none of them to play more than 20 minutes. Expect a similar pattern here: a quick look at the starters, then a long stretch of bench players competing for roster spots. The frontcourt depth is murkier. Tony Bradley and Drew Eubanks are both questionable by coach's decision, while Ochai Agbaji is probable. Even so, that group should get extended run.

Minnesota's availability is the bigger swing. Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards were both listed as questionable for rest. If both sit, the Wolves lose their primary rim protector and top shot creator, and their reserves will be tested early. Donte DiVincenzo is out with a leg injury, which thins the guard rotation further. A 2-1 start suggests Minnesota has handled the preseason well, but a patchwork lineup is harder to trust.

I give the edge to the Knicks. They have a stable starting group, a home crowd and a clear plan for their minutes, while the Timberwolves may be missing two of their most important players. Expect a choppy, substitution-heavy game that stays close until the final reserves decide it. New York gets its first preseason win, 109-104.

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