Regular Season Game 57
Wizards (32-24) at Knicks (23-35)
February 14, 2018 at 7:30 PM Madison Square Garden | New York, NY
TV: NBCSW Radio: 1500 AM
Odds: WSH - 4.0
(Photo: Ned Dishman via Getty Images)
What to Watch:
Saaaaatoooooooo Power
Against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, Satoransky finished with a career-high 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting and six assists in 37 minutes, making him +16 when he was on the court. He has not had any trouble filling in for John Wall at the point guard position as he has provided statistics that make him valuable in the starting lineup. Look for Satoransky to continue to produce solid numbers against a Knicks team that features Emmanuel Mudiay and Jarrett Jack as their point guards. By being exposed to the starting lineup, Satoransky is able to gain more confidence through each game, which will benefit in the long run, when John Wall comes back from injury.
Key Matchup:
Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris vs. Michael Beasley and Enes Kanter
With Kristaps Porzingis out for the season due to a torn ACL, the Knicks will rely heavily on veteran forwards Enes Kanter and Michael Beasley. Kanter, who is the only player on the team that is averaging a double-double this season at 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds a game, and Beasley, who is having a career resurgence in New York, have provided the majority of the scoring in the paint. Look for Keef and Gortat to limit their productivity on offense and rebounding to force the Knicks to find another player to make plays instead.
X-Factor:
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Hardaway through the past seven games has been a dismal 5-of-44 from beyond the arc. He was 0-of-8 against Philadelphia in his last game. There is a correlation in which the Knicks rely on Hardaway's ability to make the three ball in order to set up other players in the offense. If Hardaway starts making his shots early against the Wizards, it might be a long night to try and stop the rest of the team.
Fun Factor:
Trey Burke
Averaging just 5 points and 1.8 assists in 12 minutes last season for the Wizards, Trey Burke has found a home in New York and has been more helpful this season, averaging 7.4 points and 2.8 assists per game. It would be fun to see Burke go off on his former team, but realistically, he did score 0 points in 4 minutes in his last game, so there is potential for a repeat performance. Even though the team is struggling, he does look happier:
Before:
(Photo: Rob Carr via Getty Images)
After:
(Photo: NBA.com)
Prediction:
With this being the last game before the All-Star break, look for the Wizards to end their "first half" of the season with a win against the Knicks.