Knicks Dominate Wizards For Seventh Straight Win In Washington

The New York Knicks continued their remarkable midseason surge on Tuesday night, overpowering the Washington Wizards 132-101 at Capital One Arena. With this emphatic victory, the Knicks extended their winning streak to seven games, showcasing a level of dominance that’s got fans and pundits alike buzzing about their prospects as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

From the opening tip, the Knicks set the tone with a blistering pace and suffocating defense. They jumped out to a 16-point lead after the first quarter, ballooned their advantage to 27 by halftime, and entered the fourth quarter up by a whopping 31. At one point in the final period, the lead hit 41—a margin that left little doubt about who was in control. The Wizards, meanwhile, never led and looked outmatched from start to finish.

"We came out with that third-quarter intensity in the first quarter and it allowed us to dictate the game," Karl-Anthony Towns said after the win. "That’s what’s asked of us and that’s something we wanted to accomplish. So today is a good day where you actually do what you say." Towns played just 26 minutes but made every second count, racking up 19 points and 14 rebounds while also providing a physical edge in the paint.

The Knicks’ balanced attack was on full display. Mikal Bridges led all scorers with 23 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting night, while Jalen Brunson chipped in 21 points and OG Anunoby added 19. Sharing the ball was a major theme—New York tallied 34 assists, a staggering 15 more than Washington’s 19. Coach Mike Brown was quick to highlight the unselfishness that’s become the team’s calling card during this hot stretch.

"Guys are trying to share the basketball," Brown explained. "And we only had eight turnovers. So you’re trying to not only share the basketball, but share it the right way. And we have a lot of guys who can shoot it, we have a lot of guys who can put it on the floor and make plays. But guys are trying to play for one another with the correct spacing and making the correct decisions. So it’s a lot of fun to see when guys get rolling."

New York’s offense was humming from deep, as the team knocked down 17 of 37 three-point attempts. With the game well in hand, Brown was able to rest his starters ahead of a challenging stretch of games—only Brunson played more than 30 minutes. The Knicks, now 32-18, have a daunting trio of matchups looming: Denver on Wednesday, Detroit on Friday, and Boston on Sunday. The ability to conserve energy could prove critical as they navigate this gauntlet.

But the night wasn’t all rosy for New York. Injuries continue to cast a shadow over the team’s success. On the same day that reports emerged about Miles McBride’s lingering ankle issue requiring further testing, both Josh Hart and Mohamed Diawara suffered ankle injuries during the game and did not return. Hart, who previously battled a right ankle sprain on Christmas, twisted his left ankle in the third quarter and walked gingerly to the locker room. He finished with four points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in a solid all-around performance before exiting. Diawara’s injury also appeared significant, as he was helped off the court by teammates. Fortunately, both players left the arena without walking boots or pronounced limps, but their status for upcoming games remains uncertain.

The Wizards, now 13-36, are in a very different place. Their roster is brimming with youth—Alex Sarr (20), Keyonte George (22), Bilal Coulibaly (21), and Bub Carrington (20) all started on Tuesday. Will Riley paced the team with 17 points, and Carrington added 14, but it was clear from the outset that Washington was overmatched. The team’s motivation to finish among the NBA’s worst is no secret; their first-round pick, traded to the Knicks, is top-eight protected. Staying in the league’s bottom four would guarantee they keep it, and the decision to shelve Trae Young indefinitely has been widely interpreted as a move to strengthen their draft position.

Washington has now dropped two games by identical 31-point margins in less than a week, having lost to the Lakers by the same score on Friday. Still, the Wizards have won three of their last five, suggesting that while the lows are low, there are at least some bright spots amid a rebuilding year.

The atmosphere at Capital One Arena was anything but hostile for the visiting Knicks. New York fans packed the stands, showering Jalen Brunson with "MVP" chants and booing Trae Young when he appeared on the Jumbotron. The crowd’s energy seemed to fuel the Knicks even further, turning an away game into what felt like a home-court advantage. According to Brown, "Obviously Washington is a young team and the direction they’re going is what most young teams do at this time of the year. So we went out there and locked in and did the little things the right way. It was impressive to see."

For the Knicks, this win also extended their dominance over Washington to 11 consecutive games—a streak that underscores the gulf between the two franchises at this stage of the season. New York’s earlier 2-9 slump from December 31 to January 19 is now a distant memory, replaced by a string of victories that includes blowouts by 54, 27, 30, and now 31 points.

Looking ahead, the Knicks’ schedule ramps up in both difficulty and significance. Hosting the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night will be a true litmus test for how far this team has come. With injuries mounting and the trade deadline looming, questions remain about how the roster will look and function in the weeks to come. But if recent performances are any indication, this is a group that’s not just surviving adversity—they’re thriving on it.

The Wizards, meanwhile, will try to regroup as they head to Detroit for a Thursday night matchup against the Pistons. For a team focused on development and draft position, the remainder of the season will be less about wins and losses and more about growth and evaluation.

As the Knicks left Washington with another blowout win under their belts, the message was clear: this is a team on the rise, brimming with confidence, and ready for whatever challenges lie ahead. The only real question now? How high can they climb as the season heats up and the stakes get higher.