Wizards rout Knicks as New York rests starters in preseason

The Washington Wizards routed a heavily rested New York Knicks 120-103 on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, handing the Knicks their first preseason loss after they opened 3-0. New York sat its full starting lineup and several key reserves as coach Mike Brown sought extended looks at depth players, while Washington built a lead as large as 36 points before easing its rotation late in the game.

The contest served as the fourth of five preseason games for both teams. Washington’s win followed a 113-112 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the Wizards’ preseason opener on Sunday, underscoring the short preparatory window teams are using to shape rosters and rotations. The Knicks, by contrast, had appeared to enter the night with momentum after three straight wins under Brown but chose to prioritize evaluation over continuity in the Garden.

With most starters inactive, reserve guard Tyler Kolek led New York with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting and added six assists, four rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes. Miles McBride and Guerschon Yabusele each scored 11 points. Rookie Pacome Dadiet, a 2024 first-round pick who started, struggled to find consistency, finishing with eight points on...