Kispert shines in the Garden

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty images

On December 23 the Washington Wizards traveled to Madison Square Garden to face off with the New York Knicks. This capped off a 5 game road trip and was a pivotal game to bring momentum back to Capital One Arena. 

The Wizards, like the Knicks, were short handed due to having players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols for COVID-19. The Wizards needed their role players to step up with starters Bradley Beal and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out of the lineup, and they most certainly did. Corey Kispert got his first career NBA start and had the best game of his young career. The first round pick knocked down 4 threes and was 6-7 from the field to finish with a career high 20 points. Deni Avdija continued his defensive brilliance and showed his offensive potential with 14 points off the bench. Every single Washington starter had double digit points and they had 7 total players in double figures. There was no one man show for the Wizards and it was reflected in the box score.  

For the Knicks, Kemba Walker finished with a game high 44 points in the team’s 7 point loss and also added 9 boards and 8 assists. Kemba had been relegated to the bench by head coach Tom Thibodeau and has only recently come back into the rotation due to COVID issues within the team. I think it is safe to say that Kemba will remain in the Knicks rotation.

The Knicks surprisingly have struggled at home this season and the Wizards made sure to capitalize. Even without some key players, it was great for the Washington Wizards to be able to go into Madison Square Garden and leave with a victory right before Christmas. 

The Wizards will host the Philadelphia 76ers on December 26 and will look to make it three wins in a row.