New York vs Washington Prediction: Suffering from the Lineup Troubles

The Knicks and Wizards met earlier this week, and New York was stronger on the road. Will Washington get revenge?

The Knicks unexpectedly climbed to sixth place in the Eastern Conference after missing the playoffs last season, but that is entirely legitimate. New York has rebuilt smartly as the season progressed, improved defense after the return of Quentin Grimes, and got seven wins in 9 matches. Julius Randle scores 24.4 points per game, while R.J. Barrett and Jalen Brunson are just a point behind. There are no significant roster losses, and they can clinch a playoff spot.

Tom Thibodeau's team had a chance to extend their winning streak but lost in overtime, 121-123. Brunson, Randle, and Barrett shot under 45% but combined for 79 points. Long-distance shots didn't work at all, except for Quentin Grimes, who was quite accurate.

The Wizards have lost 5 of their last six games and have fallen to 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Bradley Beal hasn't played for quite some time, though Washington used to do well without one of their leaders. Beal's return is questionable, but the D.C. club is close to optimal. Delon Wright, without whom the Wizards' defense has been poor, has become very important. Corey Kispert is the only D.C. player making more than 40% of his three-pointers this season (Jordan Schakel has only two games left). They could use a couple more good shooters, for sure.

True, Washington's three-point shooting average didn't help them beat Golden State last time - 118-127. Kyle Kuzma made only 5 of 20 shots from the field, while Kispert was held back by Monte Morris, Rui Hachimura, Daniel Gafford, and Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian big man was the highest scorer on the team, with 32 points, while Morris had 17 points and ten assists.

Wes Unseld Jr. knows how to build a defense, but there are problems with the construction materials. Washington was signing some interesting defensive players. Still, some basketball players came through trades or the draft. The return of Bradley Beal will give the Knicks a chance to outscore New York, and the Wizards have no other way. The Knicks are in good shape, but they let Kyle Kuzma earn 40 points in the recent meeting with Washington. They both shot poorly from beyond the arc in the last faceoff, and long-range shooting could improve their scoring. 

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