The Washington Wizards [beat the New York Knicks, 120-103](/washington-wizards-recaps/65598/washington-wizards-blast-new-york-knicks-for-120-103-preseason-win) on Monday on the second night of a back-to-back in the preseason. Washington is now 1-1 and has some positive momentum before heading into their next game.
We have already written a bit about the likelihood that the Wizards will be one of the worst teams in the NBA this season once the regular season begins. But why did the Knicks sit out their starters against the Wizards? Even in a preseason game, the starters would show up for at least a little bit. The answer is that it turns out that benching the starters was all part of the plan.
According to [Stefan Bondy of The New York Post](https://nypost.com/2025/10/13/sports/mike-brown-sits-knicks-starters-to-better-observe-roster-in-blowout-to-wizards/), Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown did so in order to give reserve players more playing time before roster cuts. Here is the quote where Brown acknowledged the decision to play his reserves:
> It’s important. We want to try to give some guys some extended minutes to take a look at them tonight. It’s important because they’ve all been busting their behinds and making that decision is extremely tough.
Do I think that deciding this is fair for Knicks fans who attended a preseason game at Madison Square Garden? No. But I get it. And if you’re a Wizards fan, getting the win isn’t a bad thing. However, when one of the league’s most talented teams decides to bench the starters to play your team where most players did get some time, that also could be rubbed off the wrong way.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.