Wizards Shock NBA with Blockbuster Trade—Washington’s Bold Move Could Reshape the Season

Knicks Rout Wizards 132-101 as Injuries Mount and Trade Rumors Swirl WASHINGTON—The Washington Wizards’ rough season hit another speed bump Tuesday night when they fell 132-101 to the red-hot New York Knicks at Capital One Arena, surrendering a seventh straight win to their Atlantic Division rivals. Early momentum vanished almost immediately for the Wizards, who trailed by 18 before the first quarter ended and went into halftime down 72-45. New York buried 17 threes and never let the margin dip below 25 after intermission, allowing coach Tom Thibodeau to rest starters ahead of a back-to-back in Denver. Karl-Anthony Towns powered the Knicks with 19 points and 14 rebounds, flanked by 23 from Mikal Bridges and 21 from Jalen Brunson. Washington’s young core countered with 17 points from rookie guard Will Riley and 14 from Bub Carrington, but the hosts shot just 43 percent and were outrebounded 54-37, highlighting season-long issues on the glass. Hart’s Ankle Scare Adds to February Drama New York’s lone concern came mid-third quarter when do-everything wing Josh Hart exited with a sprained left ankle—his second ankle issue in two months. The Knicks labeled him day-to-day after he hobbled straight to the locker room. For Washington, the loss underscored a dire defensive trend: opponents now average 122.5 points per game against the Wizards, second-worst in the NBA. Coach Brian Keefe again leaned on 20-year-old French center Alex Sarr, who was limited to 12 points while battling foul trouble. Rebuild Meets Trade Deadline With the league’s trade buzzer looming Thursday, front-office chatter around veterans Khris Middleton and Marvin Bagley II has intensified. Multiple contenders have evaluated Bagley’s floor-spacing and Middleton’s expiring contract, sources tell FOX Sports, making Washington a likely seller as the franchise continues its youth-first reset around Sarr, Riley, and Carrington. Schedule Doesn’t Ease Up The Wizards (13-36) travel to Detroit on Thursday before hosting Eastern contenders Cleveland and Boston next week. Meanwhile, New York (32-18) rides its seven-game surge back to Madison Square Garden for a marquee clash with the defending-champion Nuggets on Wednesday. Key Takeaways for Wizards Fans • Perimeter Defense: Washington allowed 46.0 percent from three; the team ranks 28th league-wide in opp. three-point percentage. • Rebounding Woes: Minus-17 on the boards; opponents outrebound the Wizards by an average of 6.3 per game this year. • Youth Development: Riley has scored double figures in six of his last seven, while Carrington is shooting 40 percent from deep over that span. If general manager Will Dawkins flips one or two vets for draft capital this week, expect even larger roles for the youngsters—and, inevitably, more growing pains—in the season’s final 33 games.