Knicks at Wizards
THE STORY: Perhaps a game against the only winless team in the
league can cure what ails the New York Knicks. New York, which has
dropped four of five since winning its opener, visits the Washington
Wizards on Friday. The Wizards have more problems than looking for their
first victory. Washington is having a tough time being competitive. The
Wizards have already lost one game by 21 points and two others by 18.
Washington coach Flip Saunders needs some solutions quickly. "We’re
gonna have to do something with our start," he said. "Whether its
personnel wise or whatever, but somehow we’ve got to have some juice to
start games." Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was also looking for answers
after Wednesday's 118-110 home loss to Charlotte, which shot 55 percent.
"It was just bad defense," he said. "We have to do a better job."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), CS Washington
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (0-6):
Washington was never in the game in Wednesday's 103-85 loss at Orlando.
The Wizards allowed 31 points in the first quarter while missing their
first 12 shots and scoring only 14 points. Washington trailed by as many
as 28 points and is 0-6 for the first time in franchise history. John
Wall was one of the few positives with 14 points and five assists with
no turnovers in 33 minutes.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (2-4): Maybe getting away from Madison Square
Garden will help. The Knicks have been booed out of their own building
in losses to Toronto and Charlotte. Even the return of Amar'e
Stoudemire, who missed the previous two games with a sprained left
ankle, didn't help against the Bobcats. Stoudemire scored 25 points and
Carmelo Anthony led the team with 32, but that didn't make up for New
York's porous defense.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Wizards begin a stretch where they will play eight of 10 games at home.
2. The Knicks have beaten the Wizards six straight times. Washington's last win in the series came Jan. 30, 2010.
3.
New York rookie Iman Shumpert scored 18 points in 30 minutes Wednesday
after missing the previous four games with a knee injury.