What to Watch for in Knicks’ Preseason Matchup vs. Wizards

The New York Knicks return to Madison Square Garden on Thursday with an opportunity to deliver a sharper performance in their second preseason game.

New York opened with a 120-97 loss to Philadelphia, using limited minutes for its starters while giving a large group of players an opportunity to participate. Washington, meanwhile, will be playing its first exhibition.

That difference matters when evaluating the matchup. Both teams are preparing for the regular season, but the Knicks already have a game to review and specific areas to improve.

For New York, the most useful takeaways will come from its execution, defensive communication and the players trying to establish their place behind the core rotation.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns should remain central to evaluating the Knicks’ offense whenever they share the floor.

Watch how quickly New York gets into its actions and whether those possessions involve the other three players. A productive trip should give Brunson multiple options rather than require him to rescue the offense after the initial action stalls.

Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby can help by moving decisively when the defense shifts. Josh Hart’s cutting and willingness to keep the ball moving can also prevent possessions from becoming static.

The goal should be creating an advantage early enough to make the next pass worthwhile.

An exhibition offers room to work through those details. The Knicks do not need their starters to play heavy minutes, but their shared possessions should show purpose and improving timing.

Washington’s roster now features Trae Young, Anthony Davis and rookie AJ Dybantsa, giving the Knicks several different defensive challenges to examine.

If Young and Davis play together, their screening actions should test New York’s communication between its perimeter defenders and big men.

Watch where the help comes from and how quickly the Knicks recover after committing an additional defender. Containing the ball means little if the next pass produces an uncontested shot.

Dybantsa provides another interesting assignment for the wings. New York should try to make his catches difficult and force him to work through organized resistance.

The useful measure is whether the Knicks defend the entire possession, including the rebound, rather than simply stopping the first action.

Mike Brown challenged the players outside his established core after Wednesday’s practice, emphasizing that their roles must be earned.

Thursday gives that group an immediate opportunity to respond.

Watch who enters with energy, communicates defensively and makes sound decisions without needing several touches to become involved. Those qualities can matter more than a scoring burst when coaches are sorting through supporting roles.

The center competition also deserves attention, with James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks among the options being evaluated.

Screening, positioning and rebounding should help distinguish those performances.

A productive night would give Brown clearer answers about which reserves can support the starters and maintain the team’s execution when the rotation changes.