Knicks offense falls short again, struck down by Wizards, 111-109

In their return to the Garden for the first time since Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, the Knicks struggled to keep up with a young Washington Wizards core, losing by just two points, 111-109, for their second loss of the preseason.

Here are some takeaways…

— Just as in Monday’s 120-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks’ starting lineup comprised the five stars that powered the team to its NBA Finals win in June: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the Wizards, the game marked their first of the preseason, as well as their first chance to see how newly-acquired vets Trae Young and Anthony Davis — as well as 2026 first-overall pick AJ Dybantsa — fit into Washington’s rebuild.

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— The Knicks’ offense got off to a slow start, turning the ball over thrice in the first three minutes of the game. After the Wizards went up 1-0 on a free throw from Dybantsa, Brunson landed a three to kickstart a back-and-forth offensive effort that would extend through the end of the first half.

Miles McBride and Andre Drummond were the first two Knicks to come off the bench, shortly followed by Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado. McBride, who enters the season as the longest-tenured Knick, made a convincing argument for the contract extension he’s pursuing, quickly dumping in a three before drawing a foul and adding a fourth point on the free throw.

They finished the first quarter down one point, 29-30.

— New York’s bench saw more action in the early portion of the second, with Mohamed Diawara and Jordan Clarkson taking the court for the first time. Just as in Philadelphia on Monday, New York’s offense continued to ebb and flow but found a groove at the end, taking a six-point lead (63-57) into the half. Hart led the team in both minutes (16) and points (13) through the first 24 minutes of play.

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— The game’s pace quickened in the third, but the Knicks’ offense remained steady, increasing its lead thanks to Shamet. The shooting guard landed three straight three-point attempts for nine of the team’s 21 points scored in the frame. New York was up…

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Publish date : 2026-10-09 02:01:00

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