There are few sturdier NBA traditions than the New York Knicks playing on Christmas Day.
The Knicks hope a pair of familiar faces make it back for the customary clash Thursday when New York hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers to tip off the NBA’s five-game holiday slate.
Both teams played Tuesday night, when the short-handed Knicks fell to the host Minnesota Timberwolves 115-104 and the Cavaliers cruised to a 141-118 win over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans.
Starters Jalen Brunson (right ankle) and OG Anunoby (left ankle) didn’t play due to maintenance issues for the Knicks, who fell to 0-2 this season when both players are out. Brunson and Anunoby were both sidelined for a 115-113 loss to the Miami Heat on Nov. 17.
ESPN reported Wednesday that Brunson is expected to play against Cleveland.
Brunson’s replacement, Tyler Kolek, flirted with a triple-double (20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists), as did usual starter Josh Hart (12 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists). Karl-Anthony Towns, who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Timberwolves, also posted a double-double with 40 points and 13 rebounds.
But the Knicks ran out of gas after overcoming a 16-point first-half deficit to take a brief lead in the third quarter. The Timberwolves led for the final 16-plus minutes and never let New York get closer than five points in the fourth quarter.
The loss was the second in three games for the Knicks following a seven-game winning streak that included a victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup championship game.
“I’m greedy, just like everyone in that locker room is,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “We’re all competitive and we know we could’ve done a better job. And we didn’t. Give Minnesota credit. And we learn from this and we move forward.”
While the Knicks cobbled together a makeshift lineup Tuesday, the Cavaliers got another glimpse at what they’ve been missing most of the season. Cleveland finished first in the Eastern Conference last year with a 64-18 record but is just 17-14 this season while dealing with a spate of injuries.
But with Darius Garland and Sam Merrill rounding into form, the Cavaliers had a franchise record-tying nine players score in double figures Tuesday. Cleveland previously accomplished the feat in a 131-92 win over the then-Washington Bullets on Nov. 10, 1992.
The 141 points Tuesday were the second-most of the season for the Cavaliers, who began breaking out offensively in Monday night’s 139-132 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Garland had 10 points and eight assists Tuesday as he completed his first back-to-back set following left toe surgery in June. Merrill returned from a 14-game absence due to a sprained right hand Monday, when he was limited to four points off the bench. He moved into the starting lineup Tuesday and posted 22 points thanks to 6-of-10 shooting from 3-point land.
“I think getting another rotation piece in the lineup helps us,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It just kind of slots everybody in a better place than they have been. So I think that’s been big. Having Sam back, it makes a huge, huge difference.”
The Knicks will be playing for the NBA-high 58th time on Christmas Day. They improved to 25-32 on the holiday last year by edging the Spurs 117-114.
The Cavaliers are 7-7 on Christmas Day. Cleveland last played on the holiday in 2017, when it fell to the Golden State Warriors, 99-92.
