Game Preview: Wizards at Knicks, Nov. 3, 2025

The first back-to-back of 2025-26 sees the Knicks welcome in the Wizards.

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

That’s better.

All of Knicks nation woke up Monday morning with a pep in their step after the team responded to their 0-3 road trip with a near-wire-to-wire victory over the undefeated Chicago Bulls on Sunday night, leading by as much as 25 in a comfortable, feel-good victory.

Now, 24 hours later, they finish up their first back-to-back of the season by welcoming the lowly Washington Wizards (1-5) to the Mecca on Monday night.

The Wizards come to New York in the midst of a four-game losing streak. A

few weeks ago, they played in the World’s Most Famous Arena in the midst of the preseason in a game that is only notable for the fact it was the game that apparently made Malcolm Brogdon feel the need to retire. The Wizards may have dominated the Knicks in that matchup, but it was with almost every important player in street clothes.

Washington’s lone victory was a 10-point road win over the Mavericks on October 24. Since then, they allowed 139 to the Hornets, blew a 19-point lead to the Sixers, lost by 19 to the Thunder, and lost by 31 to the Magic. Vibes are certainly low.

They enter the matchup allowing a league-high 128.3 points a night, something that Mike Brown and company are likely salivating at after shooting the lights out against the Bulls on Sunday. Their biggest strengths as a team thus far have been rebounding and perimeter shooting (8th in both), but they’ve struggled mightily in terms of scoring, defense, and turnover margin.

The whole vibe of the Wizards is a couple of experienced veterans (CJ McCollum, Khris Middleton) trying to break in a host of young talent. They will most likely be picking in the top five again, but in the small chance they’re better than anticipated this year, the Knicks have control of their 2026 first-round draft pick if it lands outside the top eight.

Projected Starters

CJ McCollum’s career has taken a sharp downward turn. More known to NBA fans lately for his tenure as NBPA President, the former Most Improved Player has always been a great scorer from his time in Portland to when he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans at the 2022 Trade Deadline. The last time he averaged less than 20 points a game was 2014-15, but it’s been clear he’ll have a lesser role on this Wizards team. He’s averaging 14.3 points with 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 37.2/38.5/80.0 splits through six games and figures to just build up his trade value.

Bilal Coulibaly will be who the Wizards put on Jalen Brunson to attempt to slow down the Knicks’ captain. The defensive savant was a lottery pick out of France in 2023 and has been searching to find his game on offense. The 6’8” wing is a career 30.8% three-point shooter and has done little to improve a mediocre 52.6 TS%. He’s averaging 13 points and five rebounds on the young season.

Khris Middleton was the second option on an NBA champion just over four years ago. After a few failed playoff runs and some desperation to keep Giannis happy, the Bucks traded Middleton to the Wizards for a package centered around Kyle Kuzma at the trade deadline, and the 34-year-old has stuck around. He’s not the scorer he used to be (and his body is betraying him), but he can still get a bucket, shooting 41.2% from deep through six games.

Kyshawn George was briefly a Knick during the 2024 NBA Draft, selected 24th overall before Leon Rose began the wheeling and dealing he’s known for. He was redirected to the Wizards for Dillon Jones (who got redirected to the Thunder for five second-round picks) and had a rough rookie season as one of the least efficient shooters in basketball. Through six games, he’s impressed with his game, including a 34-point masterpiece against the Mavericks.

Alex Sarr is who the franchise is banking on. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft has shown flashes but has struggled with consistency. He shot a pitiful 39.4% from the field and 30.6% from three last year, yet came fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. That promise has shown up so far this season, as he’s been sensational in a pair of their losses, including a 31 and 11 gem against the Sixers last week.

Prediction

The injury report is relatively clean for both teams, with the only player expected to be inactive due to injury is Mitchell Robinson. The big man departed Sunday’s game early in the third quarter with a minor ankle injury, but later returned. With this being the second leg of a back-to-back and Robinson being load managed, it’d be shocking to see him play. Ariel Hukporti may step up and make his third start of the season as a result.

A back-to-back means a lot of different things can happen. The Knicks can come out slow and tired and fall behind against a young Wizards team, but they should have enough talent to overwhelm them.

Two of the meetings with the Wizards last year saw some thrilling outcomes. Brunson dropped 55 in the nation’s capital to narrowly survive a massive upset in overtime in late December, and the Knicks nearly blew a 33-point lead to Marcus Smart and company in March, allowing a 42-13 run to cut it to four before waking up and winning by double digits.

Ultimately, there’s no excuse to lay an egg tonight. You’re a better team, you’re mostly healthy, and your captain only had to play 32 minutes last night. After tonight, they play the Timberwolves on Wednesday and then get three whole days off. Let loose and get back above .500

Knicks by 19.