Gameday preview: Wolves at New York

Preview: It doesn't get much bigger than this: a showdown for sole possession of the NBA's worst record. The winner of that race at season's end gets a 25 percent chance of winning the May draft lottery and the right to pick first in June. The Knicks have won two of their past four games, including Tuesday's overtime home victory over San Antonio. Former Wolves guard Alexey Shved had 21 points and seven assists in that game for the Knicks. The last time the Knicks won two consecutive games: Feb. 27-28, at Detroit and against Toronto. … Today's tidbit: According Elias Sports Bureau, the Knicks were the first team below a 20 percent winning percentage to beat the defending NBA champs at least 60 games into the season. … The Wolves won the first game of this season's two-game series, 115-99 at Target Center on 19 back when Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony still was healthy and playing. He is out for the season because of knee surgery.

Players to watch: Traded three times already since last August, Shved has reached double-figure scoring in 11 of 13 games he has played since the Knicks acquired him in a trade-deadline deal with Houston. He had 14 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and six assists in 33 minutes during last week's victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles. … Former Wolves forward Lou Amundson — you remember him, right? — had a career-high 17 rebounds in Tuesday's overtime victory.

Injuries: Wolves C Nikola Pekovic, F Kevin Garnett and G Gary Neal all did not play again Wednesday and likely won't play on Thursday. F Anthony Bennett (sprained ankle), F Shabazz Muhammad (finger surgery) and F Robbie Hummel (fractured hand) are out. Knicks F Anthony and G Jose Calderon (sore Achilles) are listed as out; G Tim Hardaway Jr. (sprained wrist) and F Cleanthony Early (sprained ankle) are listed as questionable.