Wizards at Knicks
The Washington Wizards look to record their 20th win in the past 24 meetings with New York when they visit the Knicks on Wednesday. Washington resides in ninth place in the Eastern Conference but is hinting at making a run for a playoff spot by winning four of its last six games.
The Wizards have split their past 18 contests after a horrid 10-24 start and played well in Tuesday's 126-114 home victory over the Chicago Bulls. "We got a few stops down the stretch," Washington coach Scott Brooks said afterwards. "We made some good plays at the end of the game and made our free throws. It's good to get a win." The Knicks had a season-high, four-game winning streak halted with Sunday's 140-135 double-overtime loss against the host Atlanta Hawks. New York was able to put together the impressive stretch despite forward Marcus Morris - the team's top player this season with a 19.6 scoring average - being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers after the first two triumphs.
TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Washington, MSG
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (19-33): Star shooting guard Bradley Beal has topped 25 points in 11 straight outings after scoring 30 on 12-of-23 shooting against the Bulls. Beal, who was passed over for the All-Star Game, is averaging 35.1 points during the stretch and has scored 40 or more on three occasions. Rookie forward Rui Hachimura added 20 points against Chicago for his fourth consecutive double-digit outing since he returned from a groin injury that sidelined him for 24 games.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (17-37): Power forward Julius Randle matched his season highs of 35 points and 18 rebounds against Atlanta for his 22nd double-double of the season. "Obviously, he had an outstanding game," interim coach Mike Miller told reporters of Randle. "He was kind of on that track from the beginning. He was really consistent with his play, played with a lot of force. I thought the guards did a good job of setting him up and getting him to his spot, so to speak, where he could make some plays." Randle is averaging 19.3 points and 9.6 rebounds and his production figures to only increase with Morris no longer on the squad.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split this season's first two meetings.
2. Washington G Shabazz Napier scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting on Tuesday after being 5-for-17 in his first two games since being acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
3. New York F Maurice Harkless (illness) could make his team debut after being acquired from the Clippers in the deal for Morris.