After a trade in July that sent longtime point guard Mike Conley Jr. to Boston in free agency and Naz Reid to Charlotte, the defending NBA champion hosts a home preseason series against a Minnesota team that's virtually unrecognizable from the one that defeated them in last year's playoffs. Analysis: The Knicks' continuity in the championship gives them the advantage in this low stakes game in October, and with a new backcourt still being put together with LaMelo Ball. This is a team that is still in the middle of a rebuilding process and a reigning title team, with the backbone pretty much intact, should have a significant advantage. This is a big part of the Knicks vs Timberwolves prediction.
New York is coming off its first championship of the franchise's first time since 1973 to clinch a 4-1 series victory over San Antonio in the Finals with a 45-point Game 5 by Jalen Brunson. Coach Mike Brown, with no changes to his staff, returns with minimal moves, just Andre Drummond from Philadelphia. The Timberwolves acquired LaMelo Ball and Josh Green in a four-team trade on July 1, then acquired John Konchar and Cody Williams in a subsequent trade with Green in August, adding to the firepower they had to get right with a defending champion this early in the preseason.
As of this writing, both teams had not posted a complete score for their 2026-27 preseason match in official match trackers, but each had already played a few preseason games. The two teams played in the 2025-26 playoffs, with New York going on to claim the title, but the franchise has had some recent experience with Minnesota's team — albeit one that is now quite different.
Jalen Brunson is the obvious name to follow up with the New York area following the team's Finals run by a player in their title-winning season, but preseason minutes are usually low for a reigning champ's franchise player. Andre Drummond gets frontcourt depth from Philadelphia. LaMelo Ball's first opportunity to lead the offense in a Timberwolves uniform is the biggest storyline in preseason for Minnesota, which came with the trade that sent longtime starter Naz Reid to Charlotte in July. Minnesota is making a major effort to shore up depth in the frontcourt, and Trey Lyles is a name to keep an eye on as he signed with Real Madrid.
This Knicks vs Timberwolves game is a whole different ball game when it comes to predicting, as there's a bit of continuity to the lineup while also a lot of changes. Here's the real reason for this pick.
Neither team has yet had a chance to prove its form or trend in a verified way, though New York is unlikely to test its stars in an October exhibition following a championship run that ended in mid-June.
This is a little more relevant than usual in a pre-game scenario, as these two sides faced each other last season when New York won the playoffs. But Minnesota has moved on since then – Reid has been replaced by Ball, a Green-to-Konchar/Williams deal, Conley by Lyles, and Kyle Anderson and Joe Ingles have been gone as well.
New York's key rotation will be watched closely as players return and injuries are a factor — a champion tends to rest key players liberally in October preseason games. There were no reported specific injuries in either team as of this writing.
The key matchups focus on the Minnesota new backcourt against a set, experienced New York team as Minnesota gets a chance to run NBA offense for the first time.
The fact that their strengths and weaknesses at the starting lineup level are unmistakable in New York's favor — a team that just won a title with the same roster playing significant minutes, has a clear structural advantage over a team that changed its backcourt.
Situational factors: New York plays at home in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd that's still in a championship euphoric zone, and Minnesota is a bit of an early-season traveler.
Signal for betting market: There is no moneyline, spread, or total postings for this specific game as of the as-of date.
How it adds up: New York's championship level continuity, home-court advantage and recent face-off success with an older version of this Minnesota team are all in the same direction.
No official injury designations had been issued for either team as of October 12, 2026. With New York's deep playoff run coming to a close in mid-June, be aware of the usual preseason starter restings, the stories of which can be found in both teams' official injury reports, but be more diligent to follow the closer to the 7:30 AM PH tip-off.
New York will be playing their championship heart with care this early in the pre-season, handing out more minutes to the bench and two-way prospects, while Minnesota will be looking to get some runs in with a revamped bench.
There were no moneylines, spreads or totals posted as of October 12, 2026 on this game. As tip-off nears, be sure to review the live odds for today's NBA games on Sports OKBet. There is never an assured bet in the betting world, and a pre-season line should be considered soft, early-season betting.
Prediction: New York Knicks Pick: Knicks Confidence: Moderate Reason: Championship-level roster continuity and a home environment give New York the clearer edge over a Minnesota team still integrating a new starting backcourt — confidence is moderate rather than high because champions often rest starters heavily in October.
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A Minnesota team that has significantly reshaped its backcourt since they last played in the playoffs in the NBA 2025-26 season has a clear advantage over championship-level New York, though the difference is not as pronounced as one might think. In any knicks vs timberwolves breakdown, moderate confidence means there is a real chance that New York rests its primary stars. Please refer to the injury reports and Nba live odds as they get closer to tip-off.
New York is the favorite at championship level thanks to what few betting lines had posted as of this writing and thanks to the level of championship-level roster continuity that New York has.
New York Knicks, with moderate confidence (see above in the Final Prediction section for the full explanation).
As of October 12, 2026, there were no moneyline, spread or total posted. Review Sports OKBet's real-time NBA betting odds nearer the game's tip-off.
It was LaMelo Ball's first opportunity to run Minnesota's offense since he was traded there in July after the Timberwolves sent Jalen Brunson to New York as a Finals MVP.
