The New York Knicks come into this game after a heavy defeat by the Philadelphia 76ers (97:120) in their pre-season opener, in which head coach Mike Brown used almost every available player except Jose Alvarado, who is missing games with a bruised knee. The Washington Wizards, meanwhile, begin their exhibition campaign with serious personnel problems in the frontcourt, but with a clear intention to get their first-choice line-up playing together from the opening games.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks enter pre-season as reigning champions, which shapes their approach to preparation. Mike Brown has made it clear that he plans to use every available player, including those on training camp contracts. The only absentee is Jose Alvarado, who missed the opener against the Philadelphia 76ers and is likely to miss the game against the Washington Wizards too. The team's stars, including Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, who has undergone wrist surgery, will play limited minutes. Against the 76ers, Brunson still recorded 12 points and four rebounds despite playing just 15 minutes. The Knicks have historically dominated the head-to-head series against the Wizards, winning 9 of the previous 11 meetings.
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards come into this game still rebuilding. General manager Will Dawkins has said that he intends to field the first-choice line-up in pre-season to build chemistry, as the team are young and almost entirely new. However, the personnel situation in the frontcourt is a concern. Alex Sarr, who underwent surgery on a broken foot in June, has yet to progress to full-contact training, and his participation in pre-season games remains doubtful. Tristan Vukcevic has been ruled out for four weeks and will miss the entire exhibition schedule. Khris Middleton is also working his way back to fitness and could have his minutes restricted. In these circumstances, the workload in the paint will fall to new arrivals and players fighting for a place in the rotation.
New York Knicks vs Washington Wizards Prediction
The New York Knicks are playing at home, have an almost fully fit squad and boast a deep bench that Brown intends to use to the fullest. The Washington Wizards, meanwhile, are short of personnel in the frontcourt and are only beginning to build chemistry between their new arrivals. The hosts also have a much stronger head-to-head record against the Wizards, and that is unlikely to change in this game.
