The Minnesota Timberwolves (22-19) used a dominant fourth quarter to move past the New York Knicks (27-16) with a 116-99 win on January 18.
Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performers:
Anthony Edwards 36 PTS | 13 REB | 7 AST | 56.1 FPS
Edwards continues his offensive surge, averaging 35.0 points, 5.6 three-pointers, and an impressive 22-of-23 shooting from the free-throw line over his last three games. He’s also contributing elite numbers in rebounds and steals this month. But his turnovers have emerged as a significant concern, surging to 6.0 per game in his last four outings.
Naz Reid 23 PTS | 6-6 3PT | 8 REB | 36.1 FPS
Reid has been a pleasant surprise this month, shooting an impressive 52.0% from the field and a remarkable 57.4% from three. He’s reached double figures eight times out of nine games and has consistently added rebounds and blocks to his production.
Jaden McDaniels 10 PTS | 8 REB | 2 AST | 28.6 FPS
McDaniels’ offense has been up-and-down recently, but he still managed at least two three-pointers in three of his last four games. He also maintained his impact on the defensive end, recording six games with 5+ rebounds and five games with 3+ stocks this month.
Rudy Gobert 11 PTS | 6 REB | 2 BLK | 24.7 FPS
Gobert’s rebounding might be a bit inconsistent, but he’s kept up his value, shooting efficiently and recording at least one block in his last four games.
Julius Randle 8 PTS | 7 REB | 6 AST | 21.4 FPS
Randle’s struggles from three continue, but he’s otherwise been a consistent contributor. He’s had only one other poor scoring performance this month, and he’s maintained his rebounding and playmaking. But his turnovers are becoming a problem.
New York Knicks Top Performers:
Jalen Brunson 26 PTS | 5 AST | 2 STL | 39.7 FPS
Brunson is playing through a shoulder injury but continues to do some heavy lifting with an explosive three-game stretch, shooting incredibly well and averaging 37.6 points. He was a bit off today, but still made 3 three-pointers—his average over the last four games—while contributing solid assists and steals.
OG Anunoby 18 PTS | 10 REB | 1 BLK | 39.5 FPS
Anunoby has been a letdown this month, struggling with his long-range shooting and disappointing defensive stats. But he’s showing signs of improvement, hitting three three-pointers in each of his last two games.
Precious Achiuwa 6 PTS | 9 REB | 3 BLK | 33.3 FPS
Achiuwa is poised for an expanded role in the next games with Towns dealing with injuries. He’s always been a defensive force and has been making a strong impact lately, grabbing a total of 15 rebounds, 2 steals, and 6 blocks in his last two games.
Mikal Bridges 15 PTS | 4 REB | 5 AST | 26.3 FPS
Bridges has bounced back from a tough stretch, averaging 25.0 points and 5.5 threes in his previous two games. He wasn’t as efficient today, but he still hit 3 threes and should continue his upward trend with a favorable schedule ahead.
Cameron Payne 18 PTS | 7-10 FG | 4-5 3PT | 23.9 FPS
Payne has seen limited minutes but continues to provide good offense. He’s been efficient from the field recently, hitting at least two three-pointers in six of his last eight games, while also contributing steals.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Josh Hart 12 PTS | 3-12 FG | 3 TO
Hart had a surprising performance today, recording 0 assists and 9 rebounds after averaging 6.2 assists and 13.0 rebounds this month. He’s also been struggling offensively lately, scoring 12 points or fewer in his last four games.
