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Wizards seek first win vs. Knicks

Nov 7, 2008 - 11:25 AM New York (2-2) at Washington (0-3), 7:00 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Wizards were worried about being able to score without Gilbert Arenas. Apparently, they forgot how to defend as well.

The Wizards will attempt to post their first win of the season when they meet the New York Knicks on Friday.

Arenas, who missed the bulk of last season due to knee surgery, will be out three months after undergoing another procedure on his balky left knee, robbing Washington of its biggest offensive threat.

But that does not explain how the defense has allowed opponents to shoot 50 percent while surrendering an average of 108 points per game - the second-worst mark in the NBA. The Wizards allowed the Milwaukee Bucks to score 32 points in the fourth quarter alone on Thursday, surrendering a 14-point lead before falling in overtime.

Caron Butler has been the star of Washington's offense, leading the team in scoring, assists and rebounds, but has committed 13 turnovers in the three contests.

The Knicks managed to put some of their in-house distractions to the side in earning a 101-98 win over former coach Larry Brown and the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday. Zach Randolph went for 25 points and 13 rebounds and Nate Robinson added 24 points off the bench as New York snapped a two-game slide.

Sitting out that victory, and each of the Knicks' first four games, was the team's highest-paid player, Stephon Marbury. Coach Mike D'Antoni seems content to let Marbury ride the bench in street clothes for the foreseeable future.

New York has eclipsed 100 points in each of its wins while failing to crack 87 in either of its losses.