Knicks offense falls short again in preseason action, struck down by Wizards

In their return to the Garden for the first time since Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, the Knicks struggled to keep up with a young Washington Wizards core, losing by just two points, 111-109, for their second loss of the preseason.

-- Just as in Monday's 120-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks' starting lineup comprised the five stars that powered the team to its NBA Finals win in June: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the Wizards, the game marked their first of the preseason, as well as their first chance to see how newly-acquired vets Trae Young and Anthony Davis — as well as 2026 first-overall pick AJ Dybantsa — fit into Washington's rebuild. 

-- The Knicks' offense got off to a slow start, turning the ball over thrice in the first three minutes of the game. After the Wizards went up 1-0 on a free throw from Dybantsa, Brunson landed a three to kickstart a back-and-forth offensive effort that would extend through the end of the first half.

Miles McBride and Andre Drummond were the first two Knicks to come off the bench, shortly followed by Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado. McBride, who enters the season as the longest-tenured Knick, made a convincing argument for the contract extension he's pursuing, quickly dumping in a three before drawing a foul and adding a fourth point on the free throw.

They finished the first quarter down one point, 29-30.

-- New York's bench saw more action in the early portion of the second, with Mohamed Diawara and Jordan Clarkson taking the court for the first time. Just as in Philadelphia on Monday, New York's offense continued to ebb and flow but found a groove at the end, taking a six-point lead (63-57) into the half. Hart led the team in both minutes (16) and points (13) through the first 24 minutes of play.

-- The game's pace quickened in the third, but the Knicks' offense remained steady, increasing its lead thanks to Shamet. The shooting guard landed three straight three-point attempts for nine of the team's 21points scored in the frame. New York was up by as many as 10 points, but Washington narrowed the gap to just three by the end of the quarter.

-- The Wizards began to run away with the game in the middle of the final frame, gaining a seven-point lead until Pacome Dadiet sank a 26-foot three-pointer to put the Knicks back in the fight. The Knicks closed the deficit to just two in a chaotic final minute of play, but their effort was to no avail. 

-- Overall, the Knicks shot just 42 percent from the field and 29 percent from three (11-for-38). New York's starters played much more than in the preseason opener in Philly, each crossing the 19-minute mark. Hart led the star five with 21 minutes, tying with Brunson for 13 points. Leading the bench, Shamet also had 13 points. 

-- Dybantsa, 19, scored 11 points in his debut and led the Wizards in minutes (23) and steals (4). He went zero-for-three from three.

The 33-year-old power forward scored almost as many points (16) as he played minutes (17), landed two of his three three-point attempts, and went two-for-two from the free-throw line in his first game with Washington.

Welcome back to The Garden, Jalen Brunson https://t.co/c51x7IM5Wc

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 8, 2026

Four-point play for Deuce! https://t.co/8JyXjJEaxD

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 9, 2026

Josh Hart with the fake! https://t.co/GF7KaZPUS9

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 9, 2026

The Knicks are set to host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in their third preseason contest.