Jonah Ballow
Wolves Editor/Writer
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Wolves vs. Knicks 6 PM - Target Center
WHERE TO LISTEN: KFAN 1130

Scouting Report:
Big Picture:

Ryan Hollins DOWNLOAD MP3

Following a bounce-back victory over the Wolves on Tuesday night, the Knicks returned to the loss column by falling to Toronto and Washington on Saturday. New York allowed 36 first quarter points from the Wizards while dropping to 18-28 on the season. Prior to tipoff in Washington, the Knicks decided to sit Al Harrington due to a sore knee, which severely affected their depth on the bench. With a 7-14 mark on the road and 3-7 in its last 10 games, New York needs momentum heading to the All-Star break for a shot at reaching the postseason.

Last Meeting:
The Knicks streaked out to a 15-0 run to start the January 26 matchup at Madison Square Garden. A 40-point first quarter buried Minnesota and New York cruised to a 132-105 win in the first meeting.

Backcourt:
Offensive production was absent from the starting point guards in Tuesday’s contest. Chris Duhon was limited to zero points on zero shots from the field while Jonny Flynn only scored six points in his return to MSG for the first time since college. The Knicks did not need to rely on Duhon for a big offensive game, he distributed the basketball for 13 assists and Nate Robison came off the bench for 13 points. The reasons behind Flynn’s struggles are in question, whether he felt pressure to perform after all the pregame hype or if the rookie simply had a bad game. The good news for Minnesota was the stat line posted by Flynn on Friday night against the Clippers. Flynn recorded 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting and eight assists as head coach Kurt Rambis displayed great admiration for his point guard during the postgame press conference. At the shooting guard spot, Corey Brewer was efficient to say the least; only missing one attempt from the field and behind the arc. Brewer has been one of the most consistent offensive options for the Wolves in the past five games, averaging 19 points with a 51 percent shooting clip on the perimeter.

Frontcourt:
There is no secret to the Knicks success in the post. Center David Lee is the dominant force that New York leans on to produce double-doubles on a night basis. After receiving an All-Star snub, Lee will be motivated to prove the rest of the league that he deserved a spot on the Eastern Conference roster. Minnesota is well aware of Lee’s abilities; he scored 28 points and grabbed 10 boards in the first meeting. For the first time all season, both Al Jefferson and Kevin Love could not find any offensive rhythm along the frontline. The two players combined for just 10 points but the Wolves managed to score 46 in the paint.

What To Look For:
On Friday night, Rambis provided a jolt to the starting lineup by placing Ryan Hollins at the power forward position and moving Ryan Gomes to small forward. Minnesota responded with an impressive start to the game, eventually snatching a 111-97 victory at the Target Center. Hollins tied a career-high with 19 points in 30 minutes and the Wolves second unit instantly improved as Love, Damien Wilkins, and Wayne Ellington balanced the attack.

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