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The Wizards will hit the road for their third preseason game on Friday night, taking on the Knicks at 7:30 P.M. The two teams will match up for the second time this week, with the Knicks winning in D.C. on Monday 104-99. Both teams have long injury lists, meaning there will be even more opportunity for players to battle for minutes and roster spots.
Game Info
Madison Square Garden | 7:30 P.M. | NBCSW | 1500 AM
Probable Starters
Wizards: G – Ish Smith, G – Bradley Beal, F – Isaac Bonga, F – Moe Wagner, C – Thomas Bryant
Knicks: G – Elfrid Payton, G – RJ Barrett, F – Marcus Morris, F – Kevin Knox, C – Mitchell Robinson
Injury Report
Wizards: Rui Hachimura (rest - out), John Wall (left Achilles rehab – out), Troy Brown Jr. (left calf strain – out), Ian Mahinmi (right Achilles strain – out), Isaiah Thomas (left thumb rehab – out), C.J. Miles (left foot rehab – out)
Knicks: Bobby Portis (contused left right – available), Wayne Ellington (illness – questionable), Kevin Knox (strained right calf – out), Dennis Smith Jr. (strained lower back – outl), Reggie Bullock (cervical disc herniation – out), Damyean Dotson (right shoulder surgery – out), Amir Hinton (strained left groin – out), Kenny Wooten (sprained left ankle – out)
Storylines
Keep building toward the regular season
With only 12 days until the regular season opener in Dallas, the Wizards will hit the midway point of the preseason on Friday. Bradley Beal and Ish Smith did not play in Wednesday’s game due to rest, but they will return against the Knicks. Thomas Bryant and Rui Hachimura have started both preseason games thus far, but Hachimura will rest on Friday. Moe Wagner will start in his place. Both Justin Anderson and Isaac Bonga have started at the ‘3’ for the injured Troy Brown Jr. and C.J. Miles, but Bonga will start on Friday.
Anderson and Jordan McRae, who started for Beal on Wednesday, are both fighting for a roster spot. Look for head coach Scott Brooks to continue to play almost every healthy player to get as many looks as possible at the roster.
Familiar opponent
Considering the Wizards and Knicks just faced off on Monday, there won’t be many secrets between these two teams heading into another tune-up game. The Wizards have been cautious with their healthy rotation players, limiting minutes in both games. On the other hand, the Knicks played more of their rotation and were in control of most of the game on Monday. A few more Knicks have been added to the injury report, while former Wizards forward Bobby Portis has been upgraded to probable for Friday’s game. The Wizards and Knicks have completely different teams from last season, and both will be looking to build off of training camp and into the regular season.