Wizards
Wizards Erase Knicks' Fourth-Quarter Deficit, Win 111-109 at MSG
The Wizards beat the Knicks 111-109 in a preseason game at Madison Square Garden, outscoring New York 30-25 in the fourth quarter to flip a three-point deficit into a win. It was a back-and-forth exhibition with 12 lead changes and neither bench unit settling the issue, so there is nothing at stake in the standings — just an early look at both rosters' depth.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 13 d ago01The story of the nightFourth quarter flips itWashington trailed 63-57 after two quarters and 84-81 entering the fourth, with New York ahead by as many as three.
Washington trailed 63-57 after two quarters and 84-81 entering the fourth, with New York ahead by as many as three. The Wizards then won the final period 30-25 to close it out 111-109. Both teams scored in bunches all night — Washington posted 30, 27, 24 and 30 across the four quarters, New York answered with 29, 34, 21 and 25 — and the lead changed hands 12 times with neither team's biggest lead topping 10 points. The game was tied or within a possession for long stretches before Washington's final push decided it.
02Davis and Young lead the wayAnthony Davis led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding 7 rebounds in just 16.8 minutes.
Anthony Davis led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding 7 rebounds in just 16.8 minutes. Trae Young scored 15 with 4 assists and 2 steals. Off the Wizards' bench, Justin Champagnie added 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting, and Bub Carrington chipped in 11. Kyshawn George posted a well-rounded 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. For the Knicks, Josh Hart (13 points, 6 rebounds), Landry Shamet (13 points, 3-of-4 on threes off the bench) and Jalen Brunson (13 points) shared the scoring load, with OG Anunoby adding 10.
03Won on the glass and from deepNew York outscored Washington in the paint 52-48 and won the bench-points battle 63-53, but the Wizards still found…
New York outscored Washington in the paint 52-48 and won the bench-points battle 63-53, but the Wizards still found a way. Washington out-rebounded the Knicks 66-51 and shot better from three on fewer attempts, going 13-of-33 compared to New York's 11-of-38. The Knicks forced more value out of Washington's mistakes — scoring 27 points off the Wizards' 22 turnovers, well above the 17 points off turnovers Washington managed against New York's 15 giveaways — but the rebounding gap and the hot three-point shooting were enough to offset that advantage.
04Takeaways for both sidesThis was a preseason game, so it carries no weight in the standings for either team.
This was a preseason game, so it carries no weight in the standings for either team. For Washington, the rebounding margin stands out — 66 boards to 51 — along with efficient bench scoring from Champagnie and Carrington and four steals from AJ Dybantsa. For New York, the concern is turnovers: 15 giveaways is a reasonable number, but letting a team shoot 13-of-33 from three while winning the paint and bench scoring battles and still losing shows there is tightening up to do before the games start counting.
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