Knicks 122, Wizards 103

A win that was as unspectacular as one could want it to be vs. the league’s worst team.

The shorthanded Knicks hosted the dismal Washington Wizards and attempted to pump the brakes on their mini-slump over the weekend. On the heels of two disappointing losses against lottery-bound teams in San Antonio and Charlotte, the Knicks were forced to suit up without Jalen Brunson yet again — but this time they were also without Deuce McBride.

While the Knicks were missing players, the Wizards were without Corey Kispert, Bilal Coulibaly, Malcolm Brogdon and newly-added Khris Middleton. The Knicks were facing the team with the NBA’s worst record without almost half of its rotation, and the closing spread reflected it, as the Knicks were 14.5 point favorites.

So did the game go as most probably expected? Yes and no. The Knicks came out of the gate red-hot led by Cam Payne and Mikal Bridges. Payne, getting the start for McBride, played the entire first quarter and scored 10 points bringing his typical jovial spirit as well as his much-needed dribble penetration.

Bridges was even better. After a couple of poor performances, he reverted to the guy who looked most comfortable trying to fill in Brunson’s shoes in his absence. Bridges scored 24 first half points, firing shot after shot from all over the court. Gone was the tentative, indecisive player we saw in the last two games, replaced by a guy leveraging the threat of his 3-point shot to get into the paint. Not only did he lead the team in scoring, but he was just as effective on the other side of the ball, being a menace at the point of attack. He guarded anyone and everyone, most especially Jordan Poole, with refreshing ease.

One other Knick who made a surprise impact was rookie Tyler Kolek. Kolek, another beneficiary of the McBride groin injury, played the entire second quarter and looked almost exactly as advertised. He is the definition of a true point guard, immediately stepping in and organizing the offense as one might expect a true point guard to do. He dished out seven assists, including a cross-court dime to Bridges to set up one of his four 3-pointers. 

What many may not have expected, however, was Kolek’s defense. Due to certain physical limitations, it’s unlikely Kolek will ever make any All-Defensive teams, but he did showcase certain strengths on that end including smart positioning, fast processing speed (he executed an off-ball switch with Bridges flawlessly), and quick hands that helped result in three first-half steals for Kolek.

The Knicks looked as though they were going to cruise for most of this game, getting up by as many as 31 points. But, this being the Knicks, things had to get momentarily dicey. The Wizards played like a team with even less than nothing to lose in the second half, cutting the 31-point Knicks lead all the way down to four measly points early in the fourth quarter. It was the type of run that served as a reminder that, if this team is going to get where it wants to go, there is still work to be done. But the Knicks sharpened their focus and regained control of the wheel. And, at least for a night, any talk of fatigue or mental toughness dissipated as the Knicks emerged victorious, 122-103.

If you’ve read my recaps in the past or are familiar with my work, you know I am always seeking to extrapolate what we see on the court to some greater meaning. I am always thinking about the macro. But sometimes there is no all-encompassing message. Sometimes it’s just about a group of guys who desperately needed to see some shots fall and get an easy victory. And that’s mostly what we got over the weekend, a win that will hopefully get the Knicks back on the right track down the home stretch of the season.