Mike Conley expects ’emotional’ evening with Karl-Anthony Cities returning to Minnesota

The Timberwolves will host the Knicks on Thursday evening and it is going to be Karl-Anthony Cities‘ first sport at Goal Heart because the franchise upset in New York in October.

Cities spent 9 seasons in Minnesota and the final two with Mike Conely Jr. — and the veteran Wolves level guard expects there to be loads of emotion Thursday evening.

“It would definitely be emotional for KAT. All of us miss him and clearly he considers this his house and followers will flock to see him. He’ll have to speak rather a lot – see a bunch of acquainted faces, which is able to carry again plenty of reminiscences, I am positive,” Conley mentioned. “It is at all times troublesome, however you attempt to maintain him as a lot in basketball. as you may. In some unspecified time in the future throughout this match, there can be an emotional attachment that’s troublesome to clarify.

The Knicks are 16-10 and sit in third place within the Japanese Convention standings. A Timberwolves victory on Thursday evening can be a giant assertion when it comes to competing with top-of-the-line groups within the league.

Greater than that, although, is that dealing with Cities, who Minnesota coach Chris Finch calls a “cheat code” at heart on offense, would be the final check for a Timberwolves protection that has stymied opponents en route to 6 wins of their final seven video games. .

If the protection stops Cities and the Knicks and Wolves depart the court docket with a victory, it is going to be an essential assertion for the league and assist verify that Minnesota’s scorching streak is not simply the prospect of a tie in opposition to groups just like the struggling Lakers, Warriors and Raptors.