Overtime reversal! The Eastern Conference giants welcomed three consecutive preseason wins, Brunson 11+4, Edwards 17 points

On October 10th, the NBA preseason ushered in a focus battle. The Knicks faced the Timberwolves at home. One week ago, the Knicks and 76ers went to Abu Dhabi to play two preseason games. The results were no surprise. The 76ers were indeed no match for the Knicks without Embiid and George. The pattern of the Eastern Conference in the new season is also very clear. With the Celtics and Pacers withdrawing from the competition, only the Cavaliers and Knicks are left with strong lineups for the finals. The key Cavaliers' double short guards have obvious shortcomings in the playoffs. In fact, the new season is the Knicks' best chance to win the Eastern Conference championship. Not long ago, the Knicks were involved with Antetokounmpo. According to Charania, if Antetokounmpo decides to leave the Bucks, he would most like to join the Knicks.

The Knicks made drastic reforms during the offseason. After Thibodeau took the blame and dismissed get out of class, Mike Brown took over. The team also signed Yabusele, Brogton, Clarkson and others to strengthen the depth of the lineup. However, Mike Brown also said on the media day that in the new season, more styles of play with Towns as a support will be added to increase Brunson's off-ball attributes. As in the previous two games, Mitchell Robinson was fixed in the starting position, and Towns started at the 4th position, which relieved Towns' defensive pressure to a certain extent. On the Timberwolves side, they also played two preseason games before. The team defeated the Nuggets with all their main players. In the last game, they lost to the Pacers in overtime. It is indeed not easy to reach the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive seasons, but by trading Towns and sending Alexander Walker away, he saved a lot of luxury tax.

What these two teams have in common is that they are both the first-tier giants to win the championship in the new season. When it came to the game, both teams played with a playoff attitude. The Timberwolves started: Edwards + DiVincenzo + McDaniels + Randle + Gobert; the Knicks started: Bridges + Brunson + Anunoby + Towns + Mitchell Robinson. At the beginning, Brunson flew to the basket + Bridges counterattacked and scored consecutively. Towns fed Bridges and hit a three-pointer. Randall continued to train Towns, blossoming inside and outside. Towns did get a lot of the ball, but he also made a lot of mistakes and had no touch at all. After Brunson and Yabusele took the lead, Edwards hit a three-pointer and then committed a foul to score 1+2! The scores of the two teams rose alternately, with the Timberwolves 21-20 the Knicks in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Clarkson started playing in singles, but the Timberwolves relied on Dillingham and Reed to make sudden inside and outside shots. Shannon Jr. chased the three-pointer and the Timberwolves bench was really not weak! In the second half, Edwards and McDaniels took turns training Brunson, opening the point difference to double digits. Brunson's three-pointers + carbine layups continued to chase points. At the end of the quarter, he and Towns' free throws were only 6 points apart. Both teams played very seriously, and there was no sign that this was a preseason game. Back in the second half, Bridges stole the ball and made a gliding layup, Towns hit the board with a high throw, and when the Knicks were about to take off, Edwards stopped the bleeding with a three-pointer in time, and then Gobert began to shoot free throws. After the Timberwolves once again led by 11 points, Anunoby continued to chase points, and the two sides remained at about 5 points and fell into a tug-of-war.

Until the end of the third quarter, the Knicks and Timberwolves replaced their main players at the same time, and the game entered training time. In the end, the two sides fought hard in overtime again, and the Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 100-95 at home, ushering in their third consecutive preseason victory. According to Knicks data, Bridges had 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, Brunson had 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Towns had 10 points and 11 rebounds, Clarkson had 10 points, McBride had 10 points, and Anunoby had 8 points and 6 rebounds. According to Timberwolves data, Edwards had 17 points and 3 rebounds, Randle had 16 points and 5 rebounds, Shannon Jr. had 11 points and 8 rebounds, Reed had 9 points and 5 rebounds, and Gobert had 5 points and 11 rebounds.

For the Knicks, they have no second option in the new season and must compete for the championship with all their strength. But their defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals last season has actually confirmed that Brunson, as the core of the team, lacks the ability to contribute in high-end games, has a shortcoming on the defensive end, and is too tired. Mike Brown maximizes Towns' value, and I'm afraid the reason is also here, to reduce the pressure on Brunson as much as possible in the regular season. Of course, it is difficult for the Knicks to get Antetokounmpo. They don’t have absolutely high-quality chips. Towns’ contract is enough, but the Bucks definitely don’t need it. As for the others, if one of them is taken away, they may be involved. After all, it is the Villanueva trio.

In the past two seasons, the Timberwolves were not that eye-catching in the regular season, but in the playoffs, Edwards and Towns, as well as Randall, have a high minimum limit for leading the team. The key is the team's stable eight-man rotation framework, Edwards' big-hearted attributes, and the team's no obvious shortcomings in any position. In the new season, the Timberwolves continue to find at least three stable rotation players on the bench. In addition to DiVincenzo + Reid, the third person is a suspense. In addition, Conley is also old, and Dillingham needs to seize the opportunity to get up quickly.