New York Knicks vs Washington Wizards Picks and Predictions November 18th 2024

Knicks vs Wizards November 18th 2024

At 7:30 ET, the Knicks (-1049) will host the Wizards (+670) in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams. The Knicks are favored by 13.5 points and have won two straight games. The Wizards have lost eight in a row and are 2-10 on the season.

This game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York and can be seen on MSG.

Wizards vs. Knicks Key Information

The Wizards fell to 2-10 on the season after a 124-104 home loss to the Pistons on Sunday. Washington entered the game as +5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 228, just under the pre-game line of 231.5.

Washington got off to a slow start, trailing 28-18 after the 1st quarter. They allowed a 10-0 run that let the Pistons pull away, going from 74-61 to 74-71. Detroit extended their lead with a 37-26 3rd quarter, and while the Wizards outscored the Pistons 25-22 in the 4th, it was too late to mount a comeback.

In their 124-104 loss to the Pistons, the Wizards shot 47% from the field and connected on 12 threes at a 44.4% clip. Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma led the way with 22 points each, with Poole hitting 3 threes at 60% efficiency.

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Kuzma shot 71.4% from the field, while Bilal Coulibaly added 15 points on 66.7% shooting. Poole scored 16 points in the 2nd quarter, and Kuzma added 10 in the same period.

The Wizards struggled defensively in their loss to the Pistons, giving up 37 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters. They allowed Detroit to shoot 47% from the field.

Washington had trouble defending the three, with the Pistons hitting 17 threes at a 44% clip. The Wizards sent Detroit to the line 19 times, where they made 15 free throws.

The Knicks moved above .500 for the season, improving to 7-6 after a 114-104 win over the Nets on Sunday. Playing at home, New York covered the spread as 9.5-point favorites. The game’s total points of 218 fell just short of the 220.5 O/U line.

A pivotal 11-0 run helped the Knicks extend their lead from 32-31 to 43-31. They outscored the Nets 35-24 in the 3rd quarter, taking a 95-81 lead into the 4th. Though the Nets won the final quarter 23-19, New York’s strong 3rd quarter was enough to secure the win.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks to a win over the Nets with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists, shooting 62.5% from the field. OG Anunoby added 24 points, hitting 3 threes at 42.9%, while Mikal Bridges contributed 21 points and 3 threes, despite shooting 30% from deep.

Josh Hart was consistent, scoring 5 points in each quarter to finish with 20. The Knicks shot 48.9% from the field, making 13 threes at a 32.5% rate. Towns scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter, while Anunoby put up 10 in the 1st.

The Knicks tightened up defensively in the 2nd half, allowing just 24 points in the 3rd quarter and 23 in the 4th to secure a win over the Nets. Overall, they gave up 104 points on 42% shooting.

New York struggled to defend the three, as Brooklyn hit 17 threes at a 41% clip. The Knicks sent the Nets to the line 30 times, where they made 23 free throws. Defensively, the Knicks grabbed 37 rebounds, allowing 7 offensive boards, and recorded 4 steals and 5 blocks.

The Wizards come in as the underdog at +13.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 230.5 and our model has the Wizards and Knicks finishing with a combined 273 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Knicks Aim to Close Homestand on High Note vs. Struggling Wizards

The New York Knicks are slowly finding their groove after a shaky start to the season, but the challenge now is to maintain momentum. Fresh off back-to-back wins over their city rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, the Knicks will look to finish their homestand strong with a victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.

Both teams played on Sunday, with contrasting outcomes. The Knicks outlasted the Nets 114-104 at Madison Square Garden, while the Wizards were blown out by the Detroit Pistons 124-104 in Washington.

Knicks Closing Out Homestand Before Grueling Road Trip

For New York, Monday’s game marks the end of a busy stretch before they embark on a challenging five-game road trip out west. The Knicks will face a tough schedule that includes matchups with the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and Dallas Mavericks — all teams that reached at least 49 wins last season.

On Sunday, the Knicks showcased their depth and defensive prowess. After allowing the Nets to shoot 45 percent from the field in the first half, they tightened up defensively in the second half, holding Brooklyn to just 38.9 percent shooting.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for the Knicks with 26 points, including a dominant third quarter where he scored 14 points. The Knicks dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Nets 47-35, and took control with a 35-24 run in the third quarter.

“Playing the same team twice, it’s not easy to do,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau after the win. “Came out, played hard on both sides of the ball. But our rebounding was good. Defense good. So just keep building, keep getting better.”

Wizards in Desperate Search of a Win

Meanwhile, it’s been a grim start for the Washington Wizards, who are riding an eight-game losing streak and are tied with the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors for the fewest wins in the NBA (two). The Wizards’ average margin of defeat during this skid is a staggering 17.5 points.

The lone bright spot on Sunday was the return of Malcolm Brogdon, who made his season debut after missing the first 11 games due to a broken right hand. However, Brogdon struggled to find his rhythm, managing just one point in 22 minutes of action.

Despite their struggles, Brogdon is trying to keep the team’s spirits up.

“Even though we’re losing, even though we’re not playing great basketball right now, all it takes is one win to get us out of this,” Brogdon said. “And that’s what I’m going to preach to the guys — all it takes is one, let’s go out there and play hard every night.”

Key Matchup: Knicks’ Defense vs. Wizards’ Inconsistent Offense

The Knicks’ defense will look to capitalize on the Wizards’ struggles, especially given Washington’s lack of offensive firepower. The Wizards led the Pistons for just one possession on Sunday and never seemed to find their footing after that.

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What to Watch For:

1. Karl-Anthony Towns’ Consistency: Towns was a force against the Nets. Can he deliver another strong performance against the struggling Wizards?
2. Malcolm Brogdon’s Impact: Can Brogdon provide a spark for a Wizards team in desperate need of direction?
3. Rebounding Battle: The Knicks dominated the glass against Brooklyn. If they can control the boards again, it could be a long night for Washington.

The Knicks have an opportunity to build some positive momentum before a challenging road trip. Meanwhile, the Wizards will look to snap their losing streak and gain some much-needed confidence.