The New York Knicks clinched their second playoff appearance in three seasons on last Sunday night with a commanding 118-109 win over the lowly Washington Wizards.
When the Knicks face Washington an immediate headline is always the matchup against their former #4 overall pick, Kristaps Porzingis, from the 2015 draft, whom Knicks fans once envisioned the franchise being built around. Porzingis was traded from the team in early 2019 and on Sunday night he was a no show, out with what Washington called an illness. Washington’s other best player Bradley Beal also missed the game as he is dealing with a knee ailment.
The Knicks were without their lone All-Star Julius Randle who missed his second game of the season and his first game at home after spraining his ankle last week. He averages 25 points and 10 rebounds on the season and with the playoffs less than two weeks away there is concern whether he will be able to make it back for the start. In the win over Washington four Knicks starters scored over 20 points with guards Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes producing team high of 27 points. Forward Obi Toppin, starting in place of Randle, chipped in 21. Said head coach Tom Thibodeau of Toppin’s performance, “Obi gave us great minutes. He put the ball in the basket. Obi made a number of good plays off the double team.”
The Knicks hold a comfortable lead for the fifth seed with three games remaining as they faced the Pacers Wednesday night, New Orleans Friday night before playing their last regular season game Sunday afternoon against the Pacers.
