NBA · Tue, Dec 23 · 8:10 PM

New York Knicks at Minnesota Timberwolves

Target Center

GARY'S PICK

NBAvs Knicks· -112

TALE OF THE TAPE Minnesota New York Record 19-10 20-8 ← Off Rating 117.6 122.4 ← Def Rating 111.0 ← 113.3 Net Rating +6.6 +9.0 ← Key Injuries McDaniels (?) Brunson/OG (OUT) Gary's Take This matchup was circled on the calendar as the "Revenge Bowl"—Karl-Anthony Towns returning to Minnesota, while Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo face the team that traded them. But the injury report has turned a heavyweight title fight into a potential mismatch. The New York Knicks aren't just missing Jalen Brunson; they are missing their entire point guard rotation with Miles McBride also sidelined, plus their defensive anchor OG Anunoby. The season-long efficiency numbers that favor New York are irrelevant because the roster producing those numbers isn't walking through that door tonight. Without Brunson or McBride, the Knicks are forced to start rookie Tyler Kolek or initiate offense through Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. That is a nightmare scenario against a Minnesota Timberwolves defense that ranks among the league's stingiest. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels (if he plays) will pressure the ball relentlessly, forcing turnovers and disrupting the flow that makes New York's offense elite. While Towns will undoubtedly be motivated to put up huge numbers in his old building, he is walking into the paint protection of Rudy Gobert without his primary playmakers to get him the ball in rhythm. Conversely, Minnesota is healthy at the top and highly motivated. Randle and DiVincenzo have settled in, helping the Wolves to an 11-5 home record. They have the defensive personnel to key in entirely on Towns and Bridges, daring anyone else to beat them. The spread is significant, but the structural disadvantage for New York—missing roughly 60 points of offense and their primary ball-handlers—is too large to overcome on the road. Minnesota pulls away in the second half. Lay the points with the Wolves.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Minnesota New York Record 19-10 20-8 ← Off Rating 117.6 122.4 ← Def Rating 111.0 ← 113.3 Net Rating +6.6 +9.0 ← Key Injuries McDaniels (?) Brunson/OG (OUT)

Gary's Take This matchup was circled on the calendar as the "Revenge Bowl"—Karl-Anthony Towns returning to Minnesota, while Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo face the team that traded them. But the injury report has turned a heavyweight title fight into a potential mismatch. The New York Knicks aren't just missing Jalen Brunson; they are missing their entire point guard rotation with Miles McBride also sidelined, plus their defensive anchor OG Anunoby. The season-long efficiency numbers that favor New York are irrelevant because the roster producing those numbers isn't walking through that door tonight.

Without Brunson or McBride, the Knicks are forced to start rookie Tyler Kolek or initiate offense through Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. That is a nightmare scenario against a Minnesota Timberwolves defense that ranks among the league's stingiest. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels (if he plays) will pressure the ball relentlessly, forcing turnovers and disrupting the flow that makes New York's offense elite. While Towns will undoubtedly be motivated to put up huge numbers in his old building, he is walking into the paint protection of Rudy Gobert without his primary playmakers to get him the ball in rhythm.

Conversely, Minnesota is healthy at the top and highly motivated. Randle and DiVincenzo have settled in, helping the Wolves to an 11-5 home record. They have the defensive personnel to key in entirely on Towns and Bridges, daring anyone else to beat them. The spread is significant, but the structural disadvantage for New York—missing roughly 60 points of offense and their primary ball-handlers—is too large to overcome on the road. Minnesota pulls away in the second half.

Lay the points with the Wolves.

The pick & result

Published pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -7.5 -112
Published odds: -112
Result: Won
Final score: 104-115

Odds are the American price printed with this pick, not a current offer. Wins, losses and pushes remain on the public record; a missing grade is not a win.

The read

TALE OF THE TAPE

Minnesota New York Record 19-10 20-8 ← Off Rating 117.6 122.4 ← Def Rating 111.0 ← 113.3 Net Rating +6.6 +9.0 ← Key Injuries McDaniels (?) Brunson/OG (OUT)

Lay the points with the Wolves.

Injuries noted

New York Knicks: Guerschon Yabusele (Out) — Dec 22: Yabusele (illness) will not play Tuesday against Minnesota.; OG Anunoby (Out) — Dec 22: Anunoby is out for Tuesday's game against Minnesota due to left ankle soreness.; Jalen Brunson (Out) — Dec 22: Brunson (ankle) will not play Tuesday against the Timberwolves.; Miles McBride (Out) — Dec 19: McBride (ankle) has progressed to solo on-court work but has yet to practice in a group setting, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reports.; Landry Shamet (Out) — Nov 26: Shamet (shoulder) will be re-evaluated in four weeks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.; Mitchell Robinson (Out)

Minnesota Timberwolves: Joe Ingles (Out) — Dec 22: Ingles is out for Tuesday's game against the Knicks for personal reasons.; Jaden McDaniels (Questionable) — Dec 22: McDaniels (oblique) is questionable for Monday's game against the Knicks.; Joan Beringer (Out)

About this analysis

Who made it: Gary AI, an AI sports-analysis product operated by Gary A.I. LLC. No human reviewer is claimed unless one is explicitly named.
Published data: Daily picks first stored December 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM ET.
Odds record: The pick receipt shows the price printed in the published ticket. The matchup market and line ladder provide separate market context. Source names were not retained with this pick.
Accountability: Read the editorial standards, source policy, and corrections process.

Props on this game

GARY'S PICK
MIKAL BRIDGESPTS OVER 20.5
NBANew York Knicks· -111
LOST · ACTUAL 10
Mikal Bridges is stepping into a massive role tonight with both Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby on the sidelines. Usually, Bridges is a high-level supporting piece, but without those two, the Knicks simply don't have many other options to carry the scoring load. He is going to see a huge uptick in shots and play heavy minutes as the primary option on the perimeter. Minnesota is a tough defense, but volume is king in this league, and Bridges should easily see upwards of 20 field goal attempts tonight. He has already proven he can be a top-tier scorer when given the keys, and tonight he has no choice but to be aggressive. I expect him to look for his shot early and often, clearing this number comfortably as the focal point of the offense.
Mikal Bridges
Pts over 20.5
-111 · LOST · ACTUAL 10
New York Knicks
Mikal Bridges is stepping into a massive role tonight with both Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby on the sidelines. Usually, Bridges is a high-level supporting piece, but without those two, the Knicks simply don't have many other options to carry the scoring load.
He is going to see a huge uptick in shots and play heavy minutes as the primary option on the perimeter. Minnesota is a tough defense, but volume is king in this league, and Bridges should easily see upwards of 20 field goal attempts tonight.
He has already proven he can be a top-tier scorer when given the keys, and tonight he has no choice but to be aggressive. I expect him to look for his shot early and often, clearing this number comfortably as the focal point of the offense.
GARY'S PICK
JULIUS RANDLEPTS OVER 20.5
NBAMinnesota Timberwolves· -114
✓ CASHED · ACTUAL 25
Julius Randle definitely has this game circled on his calendar as he faces his former team for the first time since the big trade. He is a player who feeds off emotion, and you can bet he wants to put on a show against the Knicks in front of a national audience. It really helps his case that New York is missing OG Anunoby, who would have been the perfect defender to match Randle’s physicality and size. Without Anunoby, the Knicks' defense is much thinner on the wing and will struggle to keep Randle from bullying his way into the paint. Julius is already in a great rhythm with his new team, and given the personal stakes and the favorable matchup, he is going to be hunting his points all night. This is a classic situation where the motivation and the defensive gaps line up perfectly for a big performance.
Julius Randle
Pts over 20.5
-114 · CASHED · ACTUAL 25
Minnesota Timberwolves
Julius Randle definitely has this game circled on his calendar as he faces his former team for the first time since the big trade. He is a player who feeds off emotion, and you can bet he wants to put on a show against the Knicks in front of a national audience.
It really helps his case that New York is missing OG Anunoby, who would have been the perfect defender to match Randle’s physicality and size. Without Anunoby, the Knicks' defense is much thinner on the wing and will struggle to keep Randle from bullying his way into the paint.
Julius is already in a great rhythm with his new team, and given the personal stakes and the favorable matchup, he is going to be hunting his points all night. This is a classic situation where the motivation and the defensive gaps line up perfectly for a big performance.

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