The Knicks (0-1) host the Wizards (0-0) tonight in their first return to the court at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza since sinking the Spurs in June. New York seeks to rebound from a 97-120 loss in Philadelphia, where the starters played around 15 minutes each and Mike Brown fielded 20 players. For the Wiz, it will be their inaugural preseason game and their first chance to see how Trae Young, Anthony Davis and the top draft pick AJ Dybantsa fare against the defending champs.
The last meeting between these
two came March 22 at MSG. New York won 145-113. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson added 23. Jaden Hardy led Washington with 25 points, including seven threes. The Knicks’ second-half shooting (62%) buried a Wizards team that already had 15 straight losses.
Last season, Washington finished with a league-worst record of 17-65. Their defensive rating was dead last, and their offensive rating was close to it. They averaged 112.9 points and allowed 124.9. Cheer up, Wizards fans; we remember those days. The club has upgraded their talent pool with Young, Davis, and, of course, Dybantsa, but the supporting staff remains a work in progress.
Dybantsa, the number one pick out of BYU, joins the Wizards’ rebuild as a 6’9” scoring wing with elite athleticism, three-level scoring, and physicality. Davis has called him a special talent, and scouts see the 19-year-old as a new messiah for the D.C. gym, with potential to be a high-usage, two-way star. That’s a tough load for a youngster to carry. Alex Sarr (second pick, 2024) has been unable to lead the team out of the desert; neither has Tre Johnson (sixth pick, 2025). The club is rich with young talent, and eventually ownership might decide that Brian Keefe is not the coach to maximize it. Now where did I leave Thibodeau’s phone number. . . .
Projected Wizards starters: Young (PG), Kyshawn George (SG), Dybantsa (SF), Davis (PF), and Sarr (C). Off the bench, look for Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Khris Middleton, and Deandre Ayton (totally forgot he landed there).
New York’s starters looked sharp in limited minutes Monday before the bench lost the second half with simply atrocious shooting (finishing around 8-of-40 from deep). Mike Brown cited a lack of physicality across the board, so the ‘Zards should expect more chests and elbows. The third center position is still up for grabs, so you’ll see more of James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks off the bench.
For the Knicks: Jose Alvarado is day-to-day with a knee contusion. Wizards: Alex Sarr (foot) is a game-time decision; Tristan Vukcevic (hip) and Jamir Watkins (knee) are out.
The Knicks have won 12 straight regular-season games against the Wizards and 18 of the last 20 meetings. This scrimmage won’t count in the record books, but we predict the same result. Knicks by 10.
I’ll miss the game because of NYC Comic Con commitments, but will catch the rerun. Look for me in the crowd if you’re at Javits; I’ll be the good-looking one. On a personal note, today’s my 20th anniversary of sobriety. ODAT. If you think you can’t stop, drop me a line. And go Knicks.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (0-1) vs. Washington Wizards (0-0)
Date: Friday, October 5, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY
TV: MSG
Follow:@ptknicksblog andbsky
