Wizards at Knicks
The New York Knicks are on the verge of establishing the worst record in their long franchise history, a fate they can try to avoid with a strong finish over the final three games. The first of those contests comes Sunday night against the visiting Washington Wizards.
After a 24-point loss at Houston on Friday, the Knicks found themselves at 15-64, one loss from matching the total of the 2014-15 team that finished 17-65, with games at Chicago and against Detroit at home over the final two days of the regular season. "This team works harder. This team has fought the whole year," veteran forward Lance Thomas, who was on that 17-65 team, told the New York Daily News on Friday. "The results may not show exactly how hard we've been working but we've been working." The Wizards carry a 10-30 record away from home into their road finale. They've lost eight of their last 10 overall after Friday's 129-112 setback at home against San Antonio.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (32-48): Washington doesn't have much to play for other than development for next season, but it can avoid a 50-loss campaign if it wins one of the remaining two games. "I haven't even thought about that," coach Scott Brooks told reporters of the 50-loss situation after Friday's loss in which his team fell behind by 19 points after one half. "The first time I thought about that was now." Second-year center Thomas Bryant is one of the key pieces moving forward and is averaging 17.6 points and 12.8 rebounds over his last five games.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (15-64): Point guard Emmanuel Mudiay (shoulder) sat out Friday's setback and forward Mario Hezonja was given a chance to man the point, finishing with 16 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists for his first career triple-double. "He did a great job, he organized us, he called the right stuff, he attacked when he needed to attack and did an excellent job on the glass," coach David Fizdale told reporters of Hezonja. Rookie center Mitchell Robinson fell a rebound shy of a double-double while making 5-of-6 shots and he is 19-of-23 from the floor over his last four games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards SG Bradley Beal scored 25 points against the Spurs.
2. Knicks PF Henry Ellenson had 16 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench at Houston.
3. Washington has won nine in a row at Madison Square Garden.