Here’s What to Expect When the New York Knicks Battle the Washington Wizards in MSG

Kimberly McClary
Jalen Brunson Celebrating A Shot During A Brooklyn Nets vs New York Knicks game

The New York Knicks return home to Madison Square Garden tonight for one of two home games. They will face off against another struggling bottom-tier NBA team in the Washington Wizards. The Knicks have won both regular-season meetings thus far, and currently hold an 11-game winning streak over the Wizards. 

With the rest of the regular season considered to be an easy road for the Knicks, they will look to increase that winning streak to 12 games tonight. The Wizards, being yet another NBA team on a downward spiral with no chance at the playoffs due to injured star players, will look to stay alive in this Eastern Conference matchup. 

Game Details

Date:  March 22, 2026

Time:  7:30PM EDT

Location:  Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY

TV/Streaming:  MSG (New York) and MNMT (Washington)/ Fubo

Odds: Spread: Knicks -19.5 to -21.5; Moneyline: Knicks -2632 to -3000/Nets +1200 to +1400; Over/Under: 227.5 

Team Form & Recent Results

Knicks Form (46-25)

  • Won five of their last five games, currently on a five-game winning streak. Won their last matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on March 20, 2026, 93-92.
  • Currently ranked as one of the NBA’s top contenders, but their performance this season has been a mix of high-powered offensive efficiency and inconsistent defensive play.
  • Strengths: elite offensive, rebounding dominance, improved ball movement, perimeter defense
  • Weaknesses: point-of-attack and paint defense, lack of bench depth, slow pace, fouls and turnovers
  • Injuries: Miles McBride-Out for the Season (sports hernia); Landry Shamet-Out (right knee soreness); Josh Hart-Questionable (right knee patellofemoral syndrome)

Wizards Form (16-54)

  • Lost five of their last five games, and are currently on a 15-game losing streak. Lost their last matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 21, 2026, 132-111.
  • Currently in a deep rebuilding phase.
  • Strengths: pace of play, young core potential, draft assets and flexibility, veteran leadership
  • Weaknesses: poor defense, rebounding, lack of half-court playmaking, inexperience and consistency
  • Injuries: Cam Whitmore-Out for the Season (deep vein thrombosis in right shoulder); Trae Young-Out (low back pain/right quad contusion); Anthony Davis-Out (left finger sprain); Kyshawn George-Out (partial tear of the UCL in left elbow); D’Angelo Russell-Out (personal reasons); Leaky Black-Out (left ankle sprain); Tre Johnson-Out (right foot soreness); Will Riley-Questionable (right groin strain)

Key Players to Watch

Knicks

The star power duo in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns has been on fire as of late, leading the Knicks in their current five-game winning streak. With Brunson averaging 26.2 PPG and 6.6 APG, he continues to be the ice running through the Knicks’ veins. A dominant force on the boards, Towns averages a double-double with 20.1 PPG and 11.9 RPG, and led the Knicks in their most recent victory over the Nets with 26 points. 

Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby are the glue that holds the Knicks together, but head coach Mike Brown has recently relied on other players for that same hold. Jose Alvarado has been the primary back up point guard and provides a defense spark that has ignited several Knicks’ comebacks. 

After being buried in the depth chart for much of the late winter, Jordan Clarkson has recently seen a resurgence due to his ability to provide offense. Over his last seven games, he has been exceptionally efficient, shooting 60% from three-point range, and providing essential ball-handling and scoring in times of droughts. 

Projected Starting Lineup:

  1. Jalen Brunson (PG)
  2. Mikal Bridges (SG)
  3. Josh Hart (SF)
  4. OG Anunoby (PF)
  5. Karl-Anthony Towns (C)

Wizards

Tonight’s Wizards roster is extremely depleted by injuries, but there are several young players to watch as they battle the Knicks on the road. 

The rookie big man Alex Sarr is the focal point of the Wizards’ future. Currently averaging 16.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 2.0 BPG, he will have the difficult task of matching up against Towns. Rookie guard Bub Carrington has been a steady contributor, averaging 10 PPG and 4.7 APG, and is expected to see heavy minutes in the backcourt alongside CJ McCollum in tonight’s matchup.

Without Young, the Wizards have no primary scoring threat. Bilal Coulibaly is in a strong rhythm, scoring 21+ points in three of his last four games. He is expected to take on a larger playmaking role with the current shorthanded roster. 

Projected Starting Lineup:

  1. Bub Carrington (PG)
  2. Sharife Cooper (SG)
  3. Bilal Coulibaly (SF)
  4. Will Riley (PF)
  5. Alex Sarr (C)

Offense Inferno Against a Defense on the Brink

The Knicks’ offensive efficiency, particularly when they are in MSG, poses a significant threat to the Wizards defense that has consistently struggled to contain opponents during their current losing streak. Tonight’s matchup pits a struggling, injury-riddled Wizards’ offense against a Knicks’ defense that has been performing at an elite level.

Knicks Offense vs Wizards Defense

With the Wizards missing Davis, their interior defense is vulnerable. Towns is expected to dominate inside, where the Wizards already rank near the bottom of the NBA in points allowed. The Wizards play at the 3rd fastest pace in the league, while the Knicks typically play slower. Their high-tempo style often leads to transition opportunities and defensive lapses, which Brunson and Bridges could very well exploit.

Wizards Offense vs Knicks Defense

Without Young, the Wizards lose their primary playmaker and highest-volume scorer, leaving rookies Carrington and Sarr to face a top-notch perimeter defense from the Knicks, led by Bridges and Anunoby. The Knicks force 13.7 turnovers per game, and the young Wizards often struggle with ball security. If there is an area for the Wizards to exploit, it would be the Knicks’ perimeter defense in which opponents have averaged nearly 14 three-pointers per night over the last 10 games. 

Prediction

Predicted Winner: Knicks

Projected Score: Knicks 126, Wizards 105

Win Probability: Model simulations from ESPN give the Knicks a 94% chance to win.

Over/Under: 227.5 points

What to Expect in Tonight’s Matchup 

While the Knicks have clinched at least a spot in the Play-In Tournament, they are still 1.5 games behind the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference for the number two seed. If they get a win tonight, they will sweep the Wizards for the season, alongside the Nets and the Raptors. 

With no contention for the playoffs, Wizards’ head coach Brian Keefe will be working on the presence of his rookies in real-time development. Although young and depleted, don’t count the Wizards out from providing the Knicks with a highly challenging matchup.