Knicks, Wizards Eliminated from Playoff Contention After Hawks' Win over Cavs

The New York Knicks and Washington Wizards have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Fred Katz @FredKatz

With the Hawks’ 131-107 win over the Cavaliers, the Knicks and Wizards have been eliminated from postseason contention.

Washington is 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 33-43 record, while New York is 11th with a 34-43 record.

The Knicks reached the playoffs last season after finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 41-31 record, but this season has been disappointing.

New York added Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker before the season started and then traded for Cam Reddish in January. None of those additions have worked out.

The Knicks and Walker agreed last month to have him sit out the rest of the season due to his knee issues. He had averaged 11 points, 3.0 rebound and 3.5 assists before he was stopped. It was his worst season in the league.

Fournier is in the midst of a subpar season, with an average of 14.3 points, 2.6 rebound and 2.1 assists through 75 games. He averaged 17.1 points, 3.0 rebound and 3.4 assists during the 2020-21 campaign.

Since being acquired from the Hawks, Reddish has seen very little time on the court. He isn't as much to blame for the team's lack of success this year.

The starting point guard for the team, Derrick Rose, has appeared in just 26 games this year. He underwent surgery on his ankle.

The Wizards have been disappointing this season after they reached the playoffs. Washington traded Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The Wizards signed Spencer Dinwiddie in the off-season, but he struggled with the team and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks at the deadline.

Washington is missing one of its best players in Bradley Beal, who is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn wrist.

With both teams out of the playoffs, they can focus on ways to improve.