3 Studs, 2 Duds, 1 Concern from Wizards preseason loss to Knicks

The Washington Wizards fell short to the New York Knicks 117-94 in the team’s second preseason game.

If there’s one thing to take away from the team’s loss, it’s that it’s going to be a long season for Wizards fans. That said, here’s a look at what was gathered from Wednesday’s game.

Corey Kispert - Stud

Corey Kispert was one of the biggest bright spots for the Wizards last night. The Gonzaga product came off the bench and looked like one of the best players on the team. Kispert finished the game with 14 points, two assists, and one rebound on five of night shooting.

If the forward can keep this up moving forward, he could play a huge role for the Wizards this season.

Kyle Kuzma - Dud (Again)

Kyle Kuzma put up yet another disappointing performance for the Wizards. The talented scorer should be in a position to score at will, but not only did he struggle in the first game, but he seemed reluctant to shoot in the second.

The 29-year-old attempted only four shots on the night and of the four he only knocked down one three-pointer. If he continues to struggle, his outlook as the veteran on this team may be questioned sooner rather than later.

Kyshawn George - Stud

Kyshawn George was given a bigger opportunity, and he delivered. The forward put together one the best performances of the evening with 14 points, four rebounds, and one assist in only 21 minutes of play.

With Malcolm Brogdon down, George could get plenty of minutes to start the season. If he can continue to play at this level, not only will he become a key rotational player, but he could develop into more than that.

Jordan Poole - Dud

After an impressive first outing, Wizards fans may have seemed more comfortable with Jordan Poole running the point guard position for the team. The guard looked efficient and calm with the ball. He didn’t force many shots and made it a point to get his teammates involved.

On Wednesday, it all seemed to revert to the old Poole. In addition to an inefficient shooting night (4/13 FG), the combo guard also turned the ball over more times (5) than he had assists (4). If this is a sign of what's to come, how long can this experiment last for Brian Keefe?

Bad nights are bound to happen, but in preseason play against a top team, it was Poole’s chance to show he was ready for the moment. As of now, it still seems up in the air ahead of the regular season.

Alex Sarr - Stud (Again)

Entering the Wizards' second game, all eyes were on Alex Sarr to see if he could put together another solid performance like he did in the first preseason game. And the No. 2 overall pick did just that against New York.

Sarr finished the game with 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Although the big man didn’t shoot the best, his three blocks on defense made up for it. Considering his ability to play at an elite level on both sides of the floor, Washington’s top overall pick continues to show flashes of his high potential.

Concern: Wizards lack of guard depth

The injury of Malcolm Brogdon opened up more opportunities for younger players on the roster. And while that may be good for a rebuilding team with developmental projects, it doesn’t bode well for a team that hopes to even somewhat compete.

Not much is expected from the Wizards this year, but with the team already missing a true point guard on the roster, their lack of backcourt depth behind Poole remains a concern. If Brogdon goes down again or doesn’t fit in the role he’s dealt, Washington could be much worse than anticipated as the year progresses.