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Wizards-Knicks Preview

Feb 2, 2010 - 7:12 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Washington (16-31) at New York (18-29), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The New York Knicks have missed Al Harrington's scoring over the past two games. They also could use his big body in the post.

Losers of three straight, the Knicks hope to have Harrington back Wednesday night as they try to avenge last week's loss to the Washington Wizards.

Harrington, second on the team with 17.9 points per game, has been nursing a knee injury. New York (18-29) shot 42.2 percent in the two games the veteran forward missed - road losses to Washington and Minnesota.

Though Harrington has never been a premier rebounder, his absence may be hurting the Knicks on the glass. New York was outrebounded 58-36 in a 112-91 loss to the Timberwolves on Sunday night after a 59-40 deficit in a 106-96 defeat to the Wizards (16-31) the previous evening.

Harrington is averaging 5.8 rebounds this season, and for his career, lower than what was perhaps expected when he entered the league in 1998. However, the 6-foot-9, 250-pound veteran forward can help free up teammate David Lee, who is posting 11.5 rebounds a contest.

Washington's Antawn Jamison, meanwhile, had a career-high 23 rebounds versus the Knicks last week, and Brendan Haywood added 10. That will be a tough matchup for the Knicks again - with or without Harrington - as they try to avoid a third straight loss to the Wizards.

"We're definitely frustrated, because you look back on these games, look back on things that you can correct as a player to help you get where you want to go," Knicks forward Jared Jeffries said. "But it's still a long season and we've got the All-Star break coming up. We've got guys with small injuries and hopefully we can get everybody healthy, but we've got a couple games before then so we'll try to make up some ground."

New York is 11 games below .500 for the first time since it was 4-15 on Dec. 2.

Washington lost 99-88 to Boston on Monday night, missing a chance to win three straight for the first time since April 2008.

Caron Butler had 10 points and 11 rebounds but committed six turnovers for the Wizards, who shot 2 for 18 in the fourth quarter and 38.9 percent (28 for 72) overall.

"We just have to work on our mistakes, take care of the ball and we'll be OK," Washington forward Andray Blatche said.

Jamison was whistled for five fouls - all in the fourth quarter - in an all-around rough game. His left knee felt sore during warmups and he was limited to eight points, 13.2 below his season average.

Jamison is shooting 26.8 percent over his last three games, scoring fewer than 10 points twice. He was held to nine points in an 81-79 win over New Jersey on Friday night before posting 21 versus the Knicks.

The veteran forward is shooting 60.7 percent and averaging 24.5 points in his last four games at Madison Square Garden. Washington, though, has lost three straight and 16 of its last 21 there.