The New York Knicks are still making their push up the Eastern Conference standings, chasing the Detroit Pistons, who got out to a 15-2 start to the season. The Knicks weren't as hot out of the gate, starting just 9-6, but have gone 11-2 since then. Coming off a 132-125 win over the Miami Heat, where Jalen Brunson scored a season-high 47 points, they'll look to ride that momentum.

Awaiting them on Tuesday night will be the Minnesota Timberwolves, a meeting between two franchises that made a major trade in 2024, with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo heading to Minnesota and Karl-Anthony Towns heading to the Knicks. While all three of those players will be available on Tuesday, many others won't.

New York will be without many key players for Tuesday night's contest, with OG Anunoby (ankle), Jalen Brunson (ankle), Miles McBride (ankle), Landry Shamet (shoulder), and Guerschon Yabusele (illness) all ruled OUT.

Looking at Yabusele, he was expected to be a major piece to this Knicks rotation after being signed on a two-year, $11.2 million contract after playing the 2024-25 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. After averaging 11.0 points per game on 27.1 minutes per game last year, Yabusele is now down to 3.0 points per game on less than 10 minutes per game.

However, the other four players listed are key members of this rotation. Both McBride and Shamet have been sidelined for several games now, with Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek stepping up in their absences. With Brunson out now, Clarkson and Kolek's roles will likely increase for Tuesday night, with Kolek likely to take on a bigger role.

Missing Anunoby will also be a big hit for the Knicks, who have limited forward depth to begin with. Luckily, they'll still have Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart available, who will be leaned on heavily in his absence.

There are several names listed on Minnesota's injury report, but the only rotation player listed is Jaden McDaniels, as the team's third-leading scorer is ruled OUT for Tuesday's contest with an oblique contusion.

McDaniels was averaging 18.8 points per game through the first five games of this season, but has slowed down since. Regardless, he's a key piece on both ends of the floor for the Timberwolves, and the Knicks will need to find ways to attack Minnesota without one of their key defenders on the floor.

The chase for the one seed in the Eastern Conference still has a long way to go, but the Knicks having several key players sidelined won't help their efforts in closing the gap on Tuesday night.

Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. EST at the Target Center in Minnesota