NBA: Washington Wizards vs New York Knicks Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Washington Wizards are again losing games in streaks, and they look to end that against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden tonight. The two sides already met a few days ago, with the Knicks posting a massive 131-113 victory. Tom Thibodeau’s team is in a situation that it needs to win all the games played against lower-ranked opponents in order to stay in the playoff zone; otherwise, the postseason is going to remain just a dream for them. On the other side, the Wizards are out of any combinations to enter the playoffs, as we definitely saw that Scott Brook’s crew isn’t capable of competing at the needed level and that the majority of the players just wait for the season to ends.

Preview

Washington Wizards (15-27, +125) have seven defeats in the past 8 matches, and even though the majority of them took place in DC, the record during that period is negative. But that is apparently the situation with the Wizards’ entire season.

With the league’s top scorer Bradley Beal trying to find his way out of Washington, and Russell Westbrook’s yet another number-chasing season, things can’t be better for this team. To be perfectly straight with you. The Wizards need to make some radical changes that would probably include seeing both of these guys leaving the franchise and starting from ground zero.

Washington is one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to defending, allowing 120.2 points per game, while on the other side scoring 114.9. We’ve said that Westbrook chases the numbers, but really, the situation became identical with Beal over the last two months.

New York Knicks (22-22, -125) are coming into this clash as favorites, but not a huge as we expected them to be. What is the reason for this, we aren’t sure. They beat the Wizards pretty easily in the latest game, so we don’t know why the spread on the hosts in this one is just -2.5 points.

Julius Randle is the guy everyone talks about in NY. Yet, to be honest, outside the Big Apple, this guy isn’t getting the credit he deserves, because right now, the 26-year old is among the top five power forwards in the league. He currently averages 23.3 points, 10.9 boards and 5.9 assists, while shooting 47.2% from the field and 42.8% for three. Like a light version of Nikola Jokic, many would say.

Randle is the main reason, along with Thibodeau, for the Knicks’ seventh place in the Eastern Conference right now.

Head to Head Games

The Knicks and the Wizards played twice this season so far, and on both occasions, the franchise from New York won the match. The first one was 109-91, and the second 131-113.

Prediction

The Knicks will win this match and complete the season sweep against the Wizards. They are a much better team, and on top of that, found themselves in a very delicate situation that forces them to enter the clash with the highest possible sense of urgency. Because of all that, we are backing up the hosts to post another triumph.