Enes Kanter takes over spotlight in Knicks preseason loss
WASHINGTON — Kristaps Porzingis rested and rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina sat out with a bruised knee, but Knicks center Enes Kanter showed what he can do on the offensive end in making his first preseason start.
Kanter piled up 14 points in 14:38 of the first half and finished with a team-leading 16, but the Knicks dropped their second preseason game, 104-100, to the Wizards at the Capital One Arena on Friday.
Tim Hardaway Jr. added 15 points and Courtney Lee, starting at small forward, scored 12. The Knicks are now 0-2 in the preseason, but their defense tightened in the second half, when they allowed just 41 points after a 63-62 half.
John Wall scored 19 points for the Wizards. To begin the game, with Porzingis out, Kanter became the No. 1 option and went to work inside.
The Knicks started a front court of Kanter-Michael Beasley-Lee. Center Joakim Noah, who rested in the preseason opener, started the second half after not playing in the first two quarters. He solidified the defense with his positioning and energy as the Knicks got up 10 points in the third period. Noah made his lone basket. In their preseason opener, the Knicks gave up 115 points to the Nets.