(Sports Network) – Mired in a three-game losing streak, the New York Knicks hope a visit to the Twin Cities against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at the Target Center will cure what ails them.
New York had won back-to-back games before losing to Philadelphia, Milwaukee and most recently Golden State on Wednesday night. Former Knick David Lee had 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Warriors. Lee spent the first five seasons of his career in New York, then was acquired by the Warriors this summer in a trade that sent Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike to the Big Apple.
Amare Stoudemire led the Knicks with a season-best 33 points and 10 boards, while Wilson Chandler ended with 27 points and six rebounds for New York, which committed 20 turnovers and got 20 points, six rebounds and six assists from Raymond Felton.
“There were a lot of things that hurt us, but the turnovers were the big one,” said New York head coach Mike D’Antoni. “They got 30 points off of turnovers and if you take half of them away we did a good job. We have a lot of work to do, no doubt about it.”
Danilo Gallinari had 15 points and seven rebounds in defeat. The Knicks will play five of their next six games on the road and will begin a four-game trek out west after hosting Houston on Sunday.
Minnesota ended a six-game losing streak with Wednesday’s 98-89 victory at Sacramento in the finale of a three-game road trip, as Michael Beasley pumped in a career-high 42 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the way.
“I was just out there knocking down open shots, playing aggressive and it worked out well,” said Beasley, who leads the T’ Wolves with 18.1 ppg.
Sebastian Telfair scored 16 points and rookie Wesley Johnson added 12 and seven rebounds for the Timberwolves, who had dropped 17 in a row on the road dating back to last season and shot 47.1 percent from the floor.
The Timberwolves will hit the road for two games at Atlanta and Charlotte following their home tilt with the Knicks. In injury news, guard Wayne Ellington (thigh) is questionable for tonight’s game.
New York and Minnesota split a home-and-home series a year ago, with each club holding serve as the host. The Timberwolves are 13-5 in the previous 18 meetings with the Knicks, losers in 10 of their last 13 games at Minneapolis.