Three Key Takeaways From Knicks Dominant Win Over Wizards

The New York Knicks showed up to MSG and put on a show. The game went exactly how we predicted. They dismantled the Washington Wizards 145–113, and it was not close from the jump. This was a complete team performance: starters, bench, everyone.

But beyond the final score, this game told a bigger story about who this Knicks team is becoming. Here are three key takeaways from the blowout win.

The Bench Is the Real Answer

People are talking about the Knicks' starting players, and that is absolutely fair.

However, this victory was primarily secured by the bench players. Mohamed Diawara scored 12 points on highly effective shooting. Mitchell Robinson showed great physicality inside, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a mere 17 minutes.

Jordan Clarkson contributed 8 points and smoothly ran the offense when the starters were off the court.

Jeremy Sochan was a real differentiator in the last quarter with 8 points. The Knicks' second unit doesn't just hold leads anymore. They extend them.

Tyler Kolek Deserves More Minutes

Let's​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ dive into Tyler Kolek a bit, because what he pulled off truly merits a full breakdown.

He scored 42 points for the Westchester Knicks in the G League earlier that day. Then, he changed into his Knicks jersey at MSG and was 4-for-4 from the field, 3-for-3 from behind the arc, and ended up with 11 points in a very short span of five minutes on the court.