By Derrel Jazz Johnson

 The New York Knicks won their first game of the preseason, playing solid basketball on both sides of the court. In their second game of the preseason, their first at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, the defensive effort was subpar, and the Washington Wizards scorched them from the three-point line, nailing 19 three pointers in route to a 115-99 loss.

 Knicks head coach David Fizdale discussed the loss after the game. “We stopped guarding the three,” Fizdale said. “We relaxed. For whatever reason, we weren’t taking that next step to get to them with discipline. And whenever we did, we fouled them.”

 Julius Randle also talked about the loss after the game. “We were playing the right way the first eight minutes,” Randle said. “We let out guard down. We got relaxed, and they started hitting threes in transition. They got comfortable.”

 Rookie RJ Barrett had similar thoughts. “They just hit a whole bunch of threes and there was nothing you can really do when they are hitting shots like that,” Barrett said. “They started to get comfortable after they hit a couple and they really got on a roll!”

 The Knicks hosted the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night and then Duke phenom Zion Willamson comes to MSG Friday night.