The New York Knicks returned to Madison Square Garden for their first home preseason game since Game 4 of the NBA Finals, falling just short in a 111-109 loss to the Washington Wizards.
Head coach Mike Brown opened the night by discussing his decision to work his starters right back into action over the first three preseason games. After a long playoff run last season, Brown wants his players to find their rhythm again without rushing the process.
“If you think about it, we played a long time last year and our summer was short,” Brown said. “Our guys needed to get away from the game. They needed to go fill their cup, however that may be.”
Brown also explained his plan to divide opportunities among the team’s non-guaranteed players, with half getting their chance Thursday night and the other four expected to play in Monday’s preseason game.
The Garden crowd also welcomed back Trae Young, who received his usual share of boos from Knicks fans. No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa got his first taste of the Madison Square Garden crowd and his first NBA preseason minutes.
Brown Emphasizes Accountability Early
The Knicks entered Friday’s game looking to clean things up after a disappointing practice the previous day and a lack of physicality in Monday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
For Brown, the focus is on making sure the team doesn’t get too comfortable relying on last season’s success. After reaching the NBA Finals, the Knicks have high expectations, but Brown knows those accomplishments won’t mean much if the team doesn’t continue to improve.
“I have to be really conscious of making sure that none of us rely on last year to get us through this year,” Brown said.
He wants accountability to remain a priority from the start, especially with bad habits capable of developing into bigger problems as the season progresses.
“If we’re not doing well, I’ll mention it. It’s my job to hold them accountable. They hold me accountable, and the coaches hold me accountable,” Brown said.
The Knicks opened with their usual starting five, giving the group another opportunity to build on the chemistry that carried them through last season’s playoff run. With so many players available, the bench was packed, forcing a few Knicks to take seats along the baseline.
Washington also rolled out an intriguing starting lineup featuring Young, Deandre Ayton, Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis and Dybantsa. With several notable additions, the Wizards look to have a more competitive group than in recent seasons.
Brown certainly sees the potential.
“They’re extremely talented with the addition of those guys. They have a chance to be good,” he said.
Knicks Take Six-Point Lead Into Halftime
The first half featured plenty of back-and-forth action, although the Knicks struggled to find their touch from beyond the arc and got into foul trouble early in the first quarter.
New York’s starting group settled in as the half progressed, with Josh Hart helping create opportunities for his teammates. Hart found Karl-Anthony Towns for a big three-pointer before knocking down a midrange pull-up of his own and setting up Mikal Bridges for a layup.
The Knicks finished the half on a strong note, heading into the locker room with a 63-57 lead.
For New York, the opening two quarters offered another chance to build continuity among the starters while gradually increasing their workload. Washington, meanwhile, showed flashes of what its revamped roster could look like, with contributions coming from different parts of the lineup.
The second half offered a different opportunity, as two-way and non-guaranteed players looked to make their case for a roster spot before the preseason wrapped up.
Bench Players Get Their Opportunities
Jalen Brunson came out firing after halftime, scoring on two big possessions, including an and-one. Dybantsa answered with a few trips to the basket, giving the rookie more opportunities to showcase his game against NBA competition.
Landry Shamet also caught fire from deep, knocking down multiple three-pointers in the third quarter. Miles McBride, Tyler Kolek and Andre Drummond were among the players who received extended minutes as Brown continued to evaluate his bench.
The fourth quarter opened with a big slam from Pacôme Dadiet, but Washington continued to push back and eventually reclaimed the lead with about nine minutes remaining. The Knicks also found themselves over the foul limit, making it more difficult to slow down the Wizards.
James Wiseman showed some encouraging flashes, particularly around the rim, where his size and athleticism made him a potential lob threat. With about five minutes left, Brown gave more of the non-guaranteed players a chance to make an impression.
Dadiet knocked down a three-pointer to help cut into Washington’s lead, but the Wizards responded after a timeout. Wiseman was turned away at the rim, and Julian Champagnie followed with a three-pointer to push Washington’s advantage to nine.
The Knicks weren’t done yet.
New York continued to chip away, and Tyler Nickel delivered a clutch three-pointer to bring the Knicks within two with just 10 seconds remaining. The Knicks got a defensive stop on Washington’s final possession, giving them one last chance to tie the game.
Bruce Brown’s midrange jumper at the buzzer, however, missed the mark, sealing a 111-109 win for the Wizards.
Shamet Provides a Look at the Knicks’ Bench Potential
Despite the loss, Shamet provided an encouraging sign for a Knicks team looking for consistent production beyond its starting lineup. He finished 3-for-4 from three-point range in 16 minutes, offering the kind of outside shooting that could become valuable as the season progresses.
The Knicks have plenty of talent at the top of their roster, but finding reliable production from the bench will be an important part of their push toward another deep postseason run.
Thursday’s result won’t count in the standings, but it gave Brown another chance to evaluate his rotation, build up his starters and see which players can take advantage of their opportunities.
The Knicks came up two points short, but the late push showed that even with the preseason still underway, there are plenty of roster battles and rotation questions left to sort out.
