Knicks vs. Wizards Preview and Predictions

By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/03/2018

The Washington Wizards have enjoyed a strong run of success against New York and aim to defeat the visiting Knicks for the seventh straight time on Wednesday. Washington won all four of last season's meetings with New York and has emerged victorious in 13 of the past 14 matchups.

The Wizards won four of five games to close out 2017 and open January with a stretch in which six of seven games are at home. Star point guard John Wall had 21 points, nine assists and a season-best four blocked shots in Sunday's 114-110 victory over the Chicago Bulls, matching his top scoring output in 10 games since returning from a knee injury. New York has dropped five of its last six games after falling 100-91 to the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis was a porous 5-of-19 shooting while scoring 13 points in the latest setback.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE KNICKS (18-19): Porzingis struggled while primarily being guarded by San Antonio power forward LaMarcus Aldridge in a poor outing following a stretch in which he topped 20 points in four of the previous five games. "They just for 48 minutes played consistently," Porzingis said afterward of the Spurs. "They talk on defense. And they also know when they need to push the pace and when they need to slow it down." Forward Michael Beasley scored 18 points off the bench and is averaging 18.7 points and 8.7 rebounds over the past three games.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (21-16): Shooting guard Bradley Beal is the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week and the 24-year-old is making a strong bid to make the All-Star team for the first time. "Brad's an All-Star. I thought he was an All-Star last year," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "If you win games and you play for each other, the individual awards come. If you focus on that, you focus on the wrong things. I've talked to Brad many times, and he's not one time mentioned All-Star to me." Beal, who is averaging 23.4 points, recorded 39 points, nine rebounds and matched his career best of nine assists in Sunday's win.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Wall averaged 22.8 points and 11.3 assists against the Knicks last season.

2. Beal matched his career best with seven 3-pointers against Chicago.

3. New York G Ron Baker (broken left orbital bone) could miss his second straight contest.

PREDICTION: Wizards 112, Knicks 105