Wizards beat Knicks, spoil Kemba Walker’s offensive outburst

The Knicks slide to the Wizards even with forty four points from Kemba Walker.

Kemba Walker is back in the starting lineup and he’s placing up monster figures. The New York Knicks are still getting rid of games. It does not appear to be to subject what lineup Tom Thibodeau places out on the flooring.

The Knicks just can’t discover a groove.

Walker was unconscious at periods in Madison Sq. Backyard on Thursday evening. On Christmas Eve Eve, Walker brought some cheer to the supporters in MSG. He dropped forty four points on seven-for-fourteen from 3 and nine-for-nine from the totally free-toss line. Insert in 9 rebounds and eight assists and it was Walker’s very best match of the year, with out a doubt.

It’s also cliché to say this was reminiscent of Walker in the Big East Match, so I won’t say it. But it is Alright if you had been contemplating that.

Not long back, we had been thinking about doable trade locations for Walker just after his benching. With so quite a few Knicks out owing to COVID, Walker obtained the get in touch with and took gain of the opportunity, averaging 31.three points in excess of his final 3 games.

He’s not going any place with Derrick Rose sidelined owing to ankle surgery. The Knicks are going to will need Walker for the foreseeable long term.

But once more, Walker’s offensive eruption was not adequate to place the Knicks in excess of the top rated towards the Bradley Beal-significantly less Washington Wizards.

As 2021 winds down, it is effortless to neglect that the Knicks had been just one of the stingiest defenses in the NBA earlier this year. Even with out Bradley Beal, the existing Knicks could not halt a nosebleed towards the Wizards. Washington on 16-for-37 from deep and thirty assists on 42 complete industry ambitions.

Scoring was not a dilemma for the Knicks. Just after all, they place up 117 with Kemba cooking. Protection is still the situation for New York.

Seven distinct Wizards completed in double figures. Seven!

There is no continuity on defense and it is effortless to blame that on the COVID troubles the Knicks are struggling with, but the defense has been an situation all period long.

Knicks COVID Update

3 Knicks exited COVID protocols on Thursday, but only just one performed towards the Wizards — Obi Toppin — and he performed sparingly. Quentin Grimes was detailed as offered but noticed no action. RJ Barrett did not dress for the match.

It’s tricky to anticipate guys coming out of COVID protocols to participate in big minutes appropriate absent. This trio may be additional match-completely ready by Christmas Working day.

Kevin Knox (12/16), Deuce McBride (12/18), Immanuel Quickley (12/18), and Nerlens Noel (12/22) are all in the NBA’s overall health and safety protocols. However, the NBA is amending protocols to potentially let gamers to return just after six days according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

There’s no promise that Knox, McBride, and Quickley will be back in time for Christmas Working day, but it is a risk at this issue.

But on the flip side, the amended COVID protocols could also pave the way for Trae Youthful to return to the courtroom for the Atlanta Hawks. Youthful became the greatest villain in NYC since Eco-friendly Goblin with his playoff outburst in MSG.