Knicks-Wizards Preview

Posted Feb 05 2013 12:26PM

New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler has a chance to accomplish something that no NBA player has done in nearly 10 years.

The All-Star looks to grab 20 rebounds for a fourth straight contest Wednesday night when his visiting Knicks try to defeat the Washington Wizards for the 11th meeting in a row.

Chandler has grabbed exactly 20 rebounds in three straight games to tie the franchise record set by Hall of Famer Willis Reed in December 1969. Before this stretch, Chandler hadn't had that many boards in one game since 2008.

"That's what I expect," coach Mike Woodson said. "He can't tease me. He's done it three straight games, so I'm expecting it the fourth game."

Three players have produced eight streaks with at least four consecutive 20-rebound efforts since 1985-86. Dennis Rodman did it five times, Kevin Willis did it twice and Ben Wallace was the last to accomplish the feat for Detroit from March 12-20, 2003, with five straight such contests.

Chandler credited a talk with Woodson for helping motivate him.

"He called me into his office and he said, 'You're an All-Star, you need to start playing like it. The last thing you want is people questioning that,'" Chandler said. "The next night, I had a different focus about me."

Chandler faces a tough matchup Wednesday against Washington's Emeka Okafor, averaging 13.1 rebounds over his last 10 games.

New York (31-15) completed a perfect five-game homestand with Monday's 99-85 victory over Detroit. The Knicks, who won a season-high six straight to start the season, conclude this two-game trip Friday in Minnesota.

"We had to have these games and we approached it like that," star Carmelo Anthony said. "We took care of business and now we go on the road for two."

The Knicks haven't lost to the Wizards (12-35) since a 106-96 defeat Jan. 30, 2010, and cruised to a 108-87 home victory Nov. 30 in the lone previous meeting this season.

Washington, however, did not have an injured John Wall for that contest.

The Wizards have won six of seven at home, with Wall playing in the last six contests of that stretch. They have knocked off top teams such as Miami and Oklahoma City at the Verizon Center, and added another win against a division leader Monday by ending a four-game slide with a 98-90 victory over the Clippers.

"I think since everybody got back healthy and since I came back, I think a lot of teams start respecting us more and knowing that we're a capable team that can beat a lot of teams if we play the way we're supposed to," said Wall, who has 34 points and 17 assists over the past two games.

Wall is hoping to see Wizards leading scorer Jordan Crawford break out of a major slump. Crawford is averaging 5.2 points on 32.4 percent shooting over his last six games.

"We still believe in him, we still trust him as our teammate and he's going to come out there and you never know, next game he might go out there and have 24, he's one of those players who just gets hot," Wall said.

Washington may have to play a fifth straight game without rookie guard Bradley Beal, who has been sidelined by a sprained right wrist.

Wizards snap Knicks' five-game winning streak

Posted Feb 06 2013 11:19PM

WASHINGTON (AP) Though the Washington Wizards have just 13 victories, five are against leaders of the six NBA divisions.

John Wall had 21 points and nine assists, Trevor Ariza scored a season-high 20 points, and the Wizards snapped the New York Knicks' five-game winning streak with a 106-96 victory Wednesday night.

Washington held the Knicks, who had won the last 10 meetings, to just nine 3-pointers. In the previous two games, New York had 33.

The Wizards have also beaten Miami, Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Clippers, and Chicago, which was leading the Central on Jan. 26. San Antonio is the only division leader to beat Washington.

"I'd like to play our best against everyone," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said.

Washington had six players score in double figures for the fourth time this season. Martell Webster added 19 points, Nene had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Emeka Okafor scored 12 and Chris Singleton 10.

Wall, playing in front of his college coach, John Calipari, and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as Washington took control with its best fourth quarter of the season - outscoring the Knicks 36-23 and shooting 68.4 percent.

"We went flat," New York coach Mike Woodson said. "We were just there thinking we were going to show up and come out of here with a win, and it just didn't happen. It was awful across the boards, starting at the top with me."

When the teams met in New York on Nov. 30, the Knicks won by 21. This game was much different.

"Most teams in our situation - we get up for those big games. You know it's going to be a packed crowd. You don't want to get blown out and start hearing the boo chants," Wall said.

It wasn't a totally wonderful night for Wall, who equaled a season high with six turnovers, including one egregious one with just under four minutes to play.

"He got a little winded, and that one pass in the corner that he threw to your ghost of some other mother - or whatever - he was tired," Wittman said.

"We were in a situation where I wasn't going to take him out."

Ariza, who missed 17 games with a left calf injury earlier this season, has played solidly and more often in recent games, and his four-point play to start the fourth quarter gave the Wizards a 74-73 lead. His 3-pointer pushed Washington's advantage to 88-80 with 8:36 to play.

The Wizards aren't scheduled to play a game against a team currently leading its division until March 1, when they again host the Knicks. New York, which has its best record since the 1996-97 season, had many fans at the Verizon Center.

"I forgot what city I was in a couple of times," Okafor said.

Ariza discounted the notion that his team tries especially hard against the league's best.

"I don't think that's something we intend to do. We just play hard every night," Ariza said.

New York never got closer than 97-92 with 2:57 to play and the Wizards pulled away at the end.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 31 points. Amare Stoudemire scored 19 and Raymond Felton had 17.

"You can't beat a team, I don't care who it is, giving up 36 points in the fourth," Anthony said.

"I think it was a lack of communication out there."

It was a highly entertaining first quarter with both teams shooting over 50 percent and only five combined fouls. Washington raced to a 16-5 lead in the first 4 1/2 minutes, but New York led 29-28 after one.

The second quarter was a much slower-paced one, with neither team taking more than a four-point lead and the Wizards scoring the last six points of the half to lead 51-48 at the break.

In the third, Washington took a seven-point lead early in the quarter, but the Knicks scored nine straight points near the end and led 73-70 going to the fourth.

NOTES: Woodson told reporters at Wednesday's shootaround that F Rasheed Wallace, who hasn't played since Dec. 13 with a sore left foot, should return to practice after the All-Star break. ... Washington G Bradley Beal missed his fifth straight game with a sprained right wrist. ... Wall and Stoudemire were assessed technical fouls for pushing each other late in the first half. ... New York C Tyson Chandler had 13 rebounds. He had 20 in each of his previous three games, tying a team record.

Notebook: Wizards 106, Knicks 96

Rich Dubroff, for NBA.com
Posted Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:02 AM - Updated Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:02 AM

THE FACTS: Six players scored in double figures as the Washington Wizards broke the New York Knicks' five-game winning streak 106-96 on Wednesday night.

John Wall led the Wizards with 21 points. Trevor Ariza had 20, Martell Webster had 19, Nene had 13, Emeka Okafor added 12 and Chris Singleton had 10.

The Knicks, who had a 10-game winning streak against Washington broken, were led by Carmelo Anthony with 31. Amar'e Stoudemire had 19 and Raymond Felton scored 17.

QUOTABLE: "I'd like to play our best against everyone."
-- Wizards coach Randy Wittman

THE STAT: Washington shot 68.4 percent in the fourth quarter and they outscored New York 36-23 in the fourth quarter. It was the Wizards' best fourth quarter of the season.

TURNING POINT: Ariza had a four-point play to give Washington a 74-73 lead 20 seconds into the fourth quarter, and the Wizards never again trailed.

QUOTABLE II: "We were just there thinking we were going to show up and come out of here with a win, and it just didn't happen. It was awful across the boards, starting at the top with me. We've got to be better."
-- New York coach Mike Woodson

HOT: Ariza was 7-for-11 including 5-for-7 from 3-point range. Webster was 5-for-9.

NOT: All four of Jason Kidd's field-goal attempts were from 3-point range. He missed them.

GOOD MOVE: Wittman putting Ariza on Anthony. "He made Carmelo work for 31," Wittman said.

BAD MOVE: The Knicks had no answer for Wall, who played in front of his college coach John Calipari and Magic Johnson.

NOTABLE: The Wizards have beaten five of the six division leaders, New York, Miami, Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago, which was leading the Central when Washington played them on Jan. 26.

IN THE ARENA: Among the 18,263 fans at Verizon Center were thousands of Knicks fans. "I forgot what city I was in a couple of times," Okafor said.

UP NEXT: For the Knicks, Friday @ Minnesota, Sunday vs. L.A. Clippers, Feb. 13 vs. Toronto. For the Wizards, Friday vs. Brooklyn, Monday @ Minnesota, Wednesday @ Detroit.

• Knicks: Camby, Wallace
• Wizards: Martin

• Knicks: Stoudemire
• Wizards: Wall

• Lead Changes: 12
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #12 Violet Palmer, #8 Marc Davis, #34 Kevin Cutler
• Attendance: 18263
• Duration: 2:07