New York Knicks Book Spot in Postseason With Win Over Washington Wizards

• The New York Knicks defeated the Washington Wizards on Sunday
• The Knicks booked a spot in the playoffs with the victory
• Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes starred for the Knicks in the win

The New York Knicks clinched a spot in the 2023 NBA Playoffs with a 118-109 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday.

Four players scored in double figures for the Knicks, who extended their winning streak to four games.

They moved within three games of the Cleveland Cavaliers for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Brunson and Grimes lead Knicks

Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes led the way for the Knicks, each scoring 27 points. Brunson shot 11 of 20 from the field. He also had eight assists, three rebounds, and three steals.

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Grimes shot 9 of 17 from the floor, including 6 of 11 from beyond the arc. He also dished out five assists in 41 minutes of action.

Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin were the other starters who scored in double digits, dropping 22 and 21 points, respectively.

The Knicks have won both of their outings since losing Julius Randle to an ankle injury, per ESPN.

They will be in the playoffs for the second time in three years. New York had missed the playoffs the previous seven seasons.

Knicks rally past Wizards

The win did not come easy for the Knicks, who trailed by eight points at halftime. The Wizards stretched that lead to 64-55 in the third quarter before the Knicks embarked on a 14-4 run to take the lead for good.

New York extended that lead to seven points at the end of the third quarter. The lead ballooned to 20 points with 2:38 remaining in the fourth quarter following Brunson’s floater.

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The Knicks took full advantage of the Wizards being short-handed in this contest. Washington played without its top three scorers: Bradley Beal (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (ankle), and Kyle Kuzma (non-COVID illness).

Randle out with ankle injury

Sports Brief recently reported on Randle’s ankle injury.

He sprained his left ankle in the Knicks’ win over the Miami Heat.

The team will reevaluate Randle's injury in a couple of weeks, and he is in a race against time to be fit for the first round of the playoffs.