Game Time: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 28th, 2021 

Venue:  Target Center, Minnesota, Timberwolves

Where to Watch:  NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread: NL 

BetMGM:  Spread:  NL

VegasInsider:  Spread:  NL

Knicks: 15-18, 12th place Eastern Conference

Timberwolves: 15-17, 9th place Western Conference

On Christmas Day the New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Falcons 101-87.  They covered the spread.  The game hit the Under.  During that covid gift of a blowout the Knicks displayed the form that they opened the season with.  They looked tough, fast, and competent.  Young Knick PF Obi Toppin had a dunk in the final minutes where he dipped the ball between his legs while going up and then slammed it home.  That’s the Knicks in a nutshell… occasionally they play well enough to win… occasionally they flash a style… occasionally they are balls out fun…. Of course, including Christmas Day the Knicks have won only 4 out of their last ten games.  Clearly a change needs to be made.  Maybe it’s a change to the starting lineup?... Maybe high flying Obi Toppin needs more minutes?  Most likely a trio players chosen from Noel, Knox, Quickley, Toppin, Barrett, and Kemba Walker… should get moved to put a team leading star with Julius Randle, Evan Founier, and Mitchell Robinson… Could that guy be the disgruntled Portland player?.. The disgruntled Sixers player?... They need a floor general.  

The Timberwolves are in 9th place in the Western conference with a 15-17 record.  That is an indictment on the Western Conference.  For years and years regardless of what conference produced the eventual champion it was always thought that the best players were in the West. The last few seasons that script has been flipped.  Yes, there are still great players in the West… but after Phoenix and Golden State… The entire next tier of quality teams are Eastern Conference.  The drought of quality Western Conference teams is why a team as bad as the Minnesota Timberwolves could get 9th place.  The Timberwolves are the definition of insanity… year after year after year they keep trying to put the square peg of Karl-Anthony Towns into the round hole of playoff bound teams.  They seemingly never stop trying.  The problem is that KAT is not and should not be option 1 on any team.  He is a great player, but with his size and slow pace he should be dedicating his time on the court to rebounds and putbacks instead of 10 foot elbow jumpers.  KAT should be the support system to the offense going through an athletic mega-talented guard or small forward… In 2020 the Timberwolves landed a potential star in SG Anthony Edwards… and during a short stretch of games in November Karl-Anthony Towns sat out with injury while Anthony Edwards led the team in scoring and the terrible Timberwolves won 2 of 3 games before KAT’s return.  Once KAT was back he took back the offense and the Timberwolves returned to losing.  I hate to play armchair GM (no i don't), but it feels like KAT belongs in Orlando for picks and pieces in return… maybe Sacramento?

Matt rolled with the Sixers with his Eastern Conference Game of the Month and he is now on a PERFECT 3-0 NBA run. Fargo is on a POTENT 36-25 NBA Run and is ready for a HUGE 2021-2022 season! He has a MONSTER Top Play Monday with his Revenge Game of the Month as we look for a big December finish! Go get it! Get Matt Fargo’s picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

The Knicks are 15-18 on the season, but 14-19 ATS.  They have logged 15 Overs and 18 Unders.  They are 8-7 in road games.

The Timberwolves are 15-17 on the season, but 16-16 ATS.  They have notched 17 Overs and 15 Unders.  They are 9-9 in home games.

The Knicks are 22nd in points with 106.0 ppg, 16th in rebounds with 45.1 per, 20th in AST/TO ratio with 1.6.  The jump shot needs a whole lot of work as they are 25th in FG%... from beyond the arc they are shooting much better as they are 8th in 3PT%.  When the knicks win games it is because they are gritty on defense.  Center Mitchell Robinson blocks 1.8 shots a game, but alters way more shots and approaches than just that.

Our prediction for Tuesday, December 28th is…. Knicks 118 - Timberwolves 82

The Knicks have almost everyone back from Covid… The Timberwolves have almost no one back from Covid.  If nothing changes in the next 24 hours (???) the Knicks will be taking the court against mostly 3rd stringers and G-leaguers.   If you bet on this game you can rest assured that even if all the Timberwolves were able to pass enough Covid tests to come back and pay… They are still the Timberwolves!!  The bet is still safe.  Bet the Knicks on the Moneyline… bet the Knicks with a spread… and most likely bet the under as neither of these teams shoot the ball well.

Don't miss our champion handicappers' Free NBA Picks and Premium Selections every day here at Bigal.com. Just click on Shop Picks for our Best Bets, or click on Shop Subscriptions to

join for a week or a month. And if you enjoyed this Knicks/Timberwolves Preview, be sure to bookmark Bigal.com for our daily Game Previews and Predictions.  Get help with all your college football picks, National Football league, NCAA brackets, or any prop bets on your season schedule. 

Minny is 1-0 ATS versus New York over the last 3 seasons.

That game went Under.

Minny is 12-10 ATS versus New York at Minny since 1996.

Knicks:  SF Danuel House Jr (finger) Quest ** PG Derrick Rose (ankle) Out until February ** C Nerlens Noel and SF Kevin Knox II and a couple rookies on two-way contracts are on the Covid list.

Knicks: SF RJ Barrett, PF Julius Randle, C Mitchell Robinson, PG Kemba Walker, SG Evan Fournier

Timberwolves: SF Jaden McDaniels, PF Jake Layman, C Naz Reid, PG D’Angelo Russell, SG Malik Beasley

Knicks

Points: Julius Randle 19.9

Assists: Julius Randle 5.1

Rebounds: Julius Randle 9.8

Steals: Alec Burks 1.1

Blocks: Mitchell Robinson 1.8

Timberwolves

Points: Karl-Anthony Towns 24.5

Assists: D’Angelo Russell 6.7

Rebounds: Karl-Anthony Towns 9.1

Steals: Anthony Edwards 1.6

Blocks: Karl-Anthony Towns 1.1

Knicks: Tom Thibodeau. Coach T used to coach the Timberwolves.  He isn’t winning in New York this season, but he has a way better life now.

Timberwolves: Chris Finch.  Coach Finch is battling to get a team that is deeply set in losing ways to try new things…  Like passing and defense.  Keep trying, coach.