Minnesota Timberwolves vs New York Knicks

The Minnesota Timberwolves will visit the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 9, 2025. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm Eastern Time (which corresponds to 6:30 pm Central) according to multiple previews. This will mark one of the Knicks’ home preseason games as they return from their Abu Dhabi swing.

On the Knicks’ side, Josh Hart is listed as “questionable” due to a combination of back spasms and illness. Also, OG Anunoby missed an earlier game with a minor hand injury, which opened a spot for Pacome Dadiet in the rotation. New York Knicks are experimenting with playing Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns together in their lineups.
For Minnesota, their projected frontcourt includes Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle who all have gotten attention in previews. However, Jaden McDaniels is cited in one preview as “GTD (game time decision)” which suggests some uncertainty about his availability.

On the New York side, Mike Brown is expected to diverge from the heavy starter reliance under Thibodeau by leaning more on his bench from the start. Brown is also likely to use Towns and Robinson as a two-big frontcourt pairing—to maintain size and rebounding while spacing the floor. Meanwhile in Minnesota, their approach will likely push that frontcourt trio (Gobert, Randle, Reid) to match physicality and disrupt Knicks’ rhythm early. They may try to attack the paint, deny easy entry passes, and force New York’s shooters to earn their looks.

Local and national analysts see this as a test for the Knicks’ revamped style under Brown, especially after their Abu Dhabi games. Some media speculate that the Knicks are slight favorites, especially at home, but warn that Minnesota’s defensive size and the bench depth could make it competitive. The press also notes concern over New York’s health (Hart, Anunoby) and readiness to integrate the new frontcourt combinations.

In studio previews and expert breakdowns, commentators are expected to highlight the matchup of rim defenders (Gobert vs. Towns/Robinson), the strength of Minnesota’s interior, and whether New York’s smaller wings can keep up. Analysts will also zero in on how deep each bench can go—New York’s new bench acquisitions (for example Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele, Malcolm Brogdon) are seen as possible X-factors. Some studio voices will question whether the Knicks can still rely on Brunson’s creation and whether Minnesota’s rotation tweaks will reveal defensive vulnerabilities.