The Knicks didn’t just beat the Wizards on Tuesday night - they overwhelmed them. By the time the third quarter was winding down, New York had already hit the 100-point mark, while Washington barely scraped past that number in the final seconds of garbage time. In a 132-101 blowout at Capital One Arena, the Knicks looked every bit like a team on a mission - and the Wizards looked like a team still trying to find the map.
This was a wire-to-wire performance from a Knicks squad that’s now riding a seven-game win streak and playing some of its best basketball of the season. But it wasn’t all good news.
New York lost both Mohamed Diawara and Josh Hart to ankle injuries during the game - Diawara in the second quarter, Hart in the third - and neither returned. They now join Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson on the injury list, all dealing with ankle issues of their own.
It’s a tough blow for a team that’s been rolling, but depth and resilience have been key themes for this group all season.
“We had to start off strong and just play hard,” Mikal Bridges said after the game. “They’re young and they can get out strong and fast and we just had to play our way.” That’s exactly what the Knicks did - impose their tempo, their physicality, their identity.
Bridges led the way with 23 points in limited minutes, while Karl-Anthony Towns put together a well-rounded performance: 19 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and two steals on 7-of-16 shooting. Jalen Brunson matched that shooting line and chipped in 21 points of his own, continuing to anchor the offense with his usual poise. OG Anunoby added 19 points, plus a steal and a block, in another solid two-way showing.
Every Knicks starter played fewer minutes than usual - and they didn’t need to do more. The game was essentially over by halftime, with New York up by 25 and cruising. Head coach Mike Brown was able to empty the bench with over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, a luxury in the middle of a back-to-back stretch.
Defensively, the Knicks were locked in. They held every Wizards player under 15 points - a testament to both the team’s discipline and Washington’s overall lack of offensive cohesion. Former top-three pick Alex Sarr managed 11 points and nine rebounds, but it came on 11 shot attempts in a game where the Wizards shot poorly from deep, finishing with just 11 made threes.
This wasn’t an isolated performance, either. The Knicks have now held six of their last seven opponents under 100 points. During their seven-game win streak, they’ve been the league’s most efficient defense, allowing just 95.1 points per 100 possessions heading into Tuesday night - a number that likely improved after this latest showing.
Bridges pointed to the team’s chemistry on that end of the floor. “Everybody is on the same page, being together, being on one string and stepping up for each other,” he said postgame. “Sometimes things happen so fast but when you go back and watch the film you see everyone trying to make the right play and help each other out.”
That kind of connected defense travels - and it’ll need to. Because the Knicks’ schedule is about to get real.
Their next four opponents heading into the All-Star break - Denver, Detroit, Boston, and Indiana - represent a significant step up in competition. Those teams have a combined record of 114-90, and only Indiana sits below 30 wins.
Wednesday night’s matchup in Denver, the second leg of a back-to-back, will be a particularly tough test. The Nuggets are still one of the West’s premier threats, even after a surprising loss to Detroit on Tuesday.
And speaking of Detroit - that’s who the Knicks face next on Friday. So while this win over Washington was dominant, it was also expected. The Wizards are in a four-team race to the bottom of the league standings, and the Knicks simply took care of business.
One subplot worth noting: The Knicks own a top-eight protected first-round pick from Washington in the 2026 draft. With the way things are trending in D.C., that pick is looking more and more likely to convey as two second-rounders instead. That’s a loss for New York’s front office, but a reflection of just how far the Wizards have fallen.
There is, however, a new wrinkle in Washington. Trae Young is now in town after a deal that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to Atlanta.
Young didn’t suit up in this one, instead watching from the sidelines as his new team fell behind by 15 in the first quarter and 25 in the second. His debut will bring change - but not soon enough to stop the Knicks from running wild.
For now, New York keeps rolling. Seven straight wins.
A defense that’s suffocating. And a team that’s finding ways to win even as injuries pile up.
The road ahead is tougher - but this group looks ready for the challenge.