Knicks vs Wizards 1/31/16 at 7:00ET: Postgame
Bradley Beal poured in 28 points, Markieff Morris had 10 rebounds, and John Wall posted 13 assists as the Washington Wizards won their 15th straight home game, defeating a shorthanded New York Knicks team 117-101.
Early in the game, Carmelo Anthony utilized his experience and bullied younger Wizard Otto Porter Jr.and others by giving them a taste of his unguardable fadeaway jumper. The Wizards defense seemingly had no answer to Anthony's shooting as the Knicks jumped out to an 8 point advantage at one point in the first quarter on Tuesday night.
The Wizards had answers on the offensive end though as John Wall got his big man, Marcin Gortat, involved early and Gortat finished the first quarter with 8 points and 3 rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. hit a 3 late in the first quarter and John Wall split a pair of free throws as the Wizards tied the game at 28 a piece after the first quarter of play.
The second quarter started out with a Washington second unit who struggled to find unity and rythym. They were lazy on defense letting the Knicks get and 1's with ease. The Knicks jumped out to a 34-30 lead with 9:50 left in the quarter off of some surprise scoring from Ron Baker out of Wichita State. But as the second quarter continued on Bradley Beal started to find himself. He was getting to the rim at will, making driving layups and dunks. The undermanned Knicks team was still hanging in the game despite not having Kristaps Porzingis or Derrick Rose. As the second quarter was ending, Carmelo Anthony heaved up a deep 3 which looked like an air ball but Ron Baker came out of nowhere to acrobatically catch it and throw it in to cut the Wizards halftime lead to 59-54.
Wall was one assist away from a double-double at halftime with 15 points and 9 assists. Carmelo looked like Carmelo putting up 17 points in 17 minutes.
Bradley Beal did not hold back on his thoughts of the Wizards defense during the first half of Tuesday's game against the Knicks saying, "Our defense sucks right now...felt like they [Knicks] were controlling the pace."
Something must have clicked in the Washington locker room during halftime because the Wizards came out in the third quarter looking like the team they have been during this 15 game home win streak; dominant.
The Knicks looked helpless in the third quarter being outscored 32-22. Beal continued where he left off and dominated the second half with body twisting layups, 3 pointers, and dimes. Otto Porter Jr. looked as if he had gained a sudden boost of self-confidence posting all 10 of his points in the third quarter. The 21 year old Kelly Oubre Jr. had a beautiful lane clearing dunk and a corner three that was shot with no hesitation as he came alive in the third quarter.
The Wizards led the Knicks 91-76 after the third quarter and never looked back from there. The lethal backcourt of Beal and Wall shined again and Markieff Morris has been playing at a very high level lately as the Wizards overpowered the Knicks.
The Knicks can only hope something magical happens now to turn around their season as they watch their playoff chances slip away from them. The Wizards now find themselves catching fire, tied atop the lead of the Southeast conference with the Atlanta Hawks. Washington hopes to carry this great play into February and gain more ground in the Eastern conference playoff race.
