Karl-Anthony Cities’ first sport in Minnesota as an opposing participant reminded the Timberwolves how beneficial he was throughout his 9 seasons there.
On Friday evening, the New York Knicks might be part of the Timberwolves in realizing how troublesome it may be to win with out the four-time All-Star.
New York hopes Cities can return to the lineup when it hosts Minnesota within the second and remaining common season assembly between the groups.
Each groups have been off Thursday after taking part in Wednesday.
With Cities sidelined with a sprained proper thumb, New York blew a 16-point lead however recovered to edge the host Philadelphia 76ers 125-119 in extra time. Minnesota overcame a 24-point deficit earlier than struggling a 116-115 dwelling loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated Cities was day-to-day, and a number of sources reported that Cities additionally suffered a bone chip in his thumb, which he injured throughout Monday’s 124-119 loss in opposition to the Detroit Pistons.
New York is 2-2 this season with out Cities, who was acquired from the Timberwolves in a three-way commerce on Oct. 2 through which New York despatched Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota.
However Cities’ manufacturing was onerous to switch for the Knicks, who allowed the 76ers to tie the rating 5 occasions within the remaining 12 minutes of regulation on Wednesday.
Cities has 34 double-doubles in 38 video games and completed with 32 factors and 20 rebounds in a 133-107 win over the Timberwolves on Dec. 19.
Jericho Sims took Cities’ place within the lineup Wednesday and scored eight factors in 23 minutes — as many factors as he scored whole in his first three begins in Cities’ place. Treasured Achiuwa added 10 factors, six rebounds and three blocks in half-hour coming off the bench.
“It’s all the time the subsequent man up mentality,” stated New York guard Jalen Brunson, who scored eight of his 38 factors in extra time on Wednesday. “It does not matter who’s out. And for probably the most half, we’re all the time able to go.”
Minnesota did not look able to play Wednesday, when it allowed the primary 13 factors and fell behind 34-10 within the remaining seconds of the primary quarter. The Timberwolves trailed by 9 late within the third earlier than tying the rating at 108-108 on a pair of Naz Reid free throws with 1:07 left.
Golden State took an early lead and Anthony Edwards missed a possible game-tying 3-pointer for Minnesota. The Timberwolves subsequently did not get a defensive rebound following a missed free throw whereas trailing by two within the remaining seconds.
The loss continued Minnesota’s turbulent first season within the post-Cities period.
The Timberwolves, who reached the Western Convention finals final spring for the primary time since 2004, entered Thursday in eighth place within the Western Convention and one sport behind the Los Angeles Lakers within the race for the sixth and remaining assured playoff spot.
Minnesota has 4 profitable streaks of not less than three video games in addition to 4 dropping streaks of not less than three video games.
“The sport was misplaced within the first quarter,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch stated Wednesday evening. “It is an apparent assertion. After which you need to play completely.”
Edwards leads Minnesota with 25.9 factors per sport, whereas Randle scores 19.5 factors to go together with his team-high 4.3 assists per sport.
Brunson paces the Knicks in scoring common and assists per sport and Cities grabs 13.9 rebounds to enrich his 25.4 factors per sport.
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