Wizards vs. Knicks final score: Washington’s three-point game key to 115-99 win

The Washington Wizards have their first win of the preseason, defeating the New York Knicks, 115-99 on the road.

This game started out in a lackluster fashion once again. The Wizards fell behind early by as many as 15 points though they were able to finish the quarter with just a 30-24 deficit.

From there, Washington made their big run to take a commanding 65-47 lead at halftime and never looked back. This was a comfortable win and was a nice way to “run it back” after Monday’s 104-99 defeat at home. Let’s take a look at why the Wizards got it done.

Key veterans step up

Bradley Beal led Washington with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting. The veteran had his first significant dose of playing time and clearly shined as the best player on the floor. He only played 18 minutes.

Davis Bertans played 18 minutes off the bench and showed his range, scoring 9 points, all off of three three-pointers. Thomas Bryant also had a double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, but his shooting efficiency had room for improvement.

Moritz Wagner’s hot streak continues!

The new center did not disappoint as he scored 18 points on 4-of-7 shooting including 2-of-4 from the three point line with shots like these.

Wagner is not expected to be a starter for most of the season. But with more performances like these, he could be a key contributor off the bench with his ability to stretch the floor. I can’t wait to see if he plays on Sunday against the Bucks, and whether he continues to get a nod to the starting lineup.

The three-pointer was huge tonight

Washington as a whole made 19-of-41 three-pointers. In addition to Beal, Bertans and Wagner, Justin Anderson and Jordan McRae made a combined 8-of-14 from the three-point line themselves. Both Anderson and McRae also scored 15 points each overall.

Who were the Knicks’ leaders?

For the Knicks, Marcus Morris scored 21 points, but also played nearly 31 minutes to get there. There was no drama this time with Anderson, whom he bopped on the head last Monday. RJ Barrett also added 15 points for New York.

What’s next for Washington?

The Wizards head back to Capital One Arena on Sunday, Oct. 13 to host the Milwaukee Bucks. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. ET.