Wizards 6-16 vs Knicks 11-15
When: Friday, February 12th, at 7p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
TV: NBCSWA, NBA League Pass / Radio: WFED 1500 AM
Injury
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (Out/ Left ACL Surgery), Brad Beal (Out/ Rest)
Knicks: Frank Ntilikina (Out/ Health and Safety Protocol)
Wizards -
113.9 - points per game
120.9 - points against
45.3 - Field Goal %
Knicks -
102.5 - points per game
103.9 - points against
44.8 - Field Goal %
Keep an eye on:
Julius Randle: is having a MONSTER season and everything with the Knicks starts and ends with him. Randle leads the Knicks in points (22.3), rebounds (10.9), and assists (5.8) while shooting career highs from 3-point range (38%) and from the free throw line (80%). He's a bull in a china shop inside, yet, he's expanded his game to be an efficient shooter and scorer from all three levels on the floor. Washington's front court MUST come to play if they want any hope at slowing down Randle, who should be an all star this season.
Rebounding: is key in every game, however, tonight it may decide the game. New York comes into tonight's match-up ranking 5th in the NBA in rebounds per game, puling down a little over 46 boards a contest. Randle, wing RJ Barrett and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson are VERY active on the boards night in night out. The trio average a little over 25 rebounds a game combined. Washington on the other hand are one of the leagues worst in this area, averaging 43.8 rebounds per game which has them slotted at 20th in the league. Washington, especially with Beal being out, will have to rebound by committee. We may see Scott Brooks sending four players to crash the glass to keep NY at bay.
Washington's Offense: with Washington star and the NBA's leading scorer Brad Beal not suiting up today. It's a simple question? Can Washington score enough without Beal to win tonight? I expect Westbrook to be aggressive and to change his style back to what we've become accustom to seeing out of him during his OKC Thunder days, although, he will need help.
Davis Bertans who has had a down year shooting the ball will need to show up and knock down shots to help spread the floor. Rui Hachimura needs to have a performance similar to what we saw from him against Chicago earlier this week and it's essential for the others, Deni, Ish, Neto, Mathews, Lopez, Troy Brown Jr etc to find ways to consistently score and make plays in an efficient manner or another loss is all but assured.
Immanuel Quickley: has been a spark plug for New York from day one and is capable of being a lethal x-factor off the bench. The savvy Baltimore product has opened eyes across the league so far in his rookie campaign, posting 11.8 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds on 35 percent shooting from deep and 93 percent shooting from the line in a reserve role. Quickley can score in a myriad of ways on the floor and is a capable playmaker as well. Washington can't afford to fall asleep once he comes into the game, considering, it doesn't take much for him to put points on the board QUICK, fast and in a hurry.
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