Magic 103, Knicks 94: “Worst loss of the season.”

New York ties their fewest three-pointers of the season while the Magic defense strangles them through the second half.

It was Pride Night at Madison Square Garden, and all indications were that the New York Knicks (24-13) would coast to victory over the Orlando Magic (22-16) tonight. The home team had already bested the Disneys thrice this season. The visitors were missing at least five rotation players, including Paolo Banchero, the Wagners, and Jalen Suggs. And the Magic lost to the Utah Jazz last night, so fatigue was a factor, too. Sure, the Knicks would be without Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Miles McBride (hamstring), but the remaining Knicks have enough talent to beat the depleted Magic with one hand tied behind their back and a rock in their shoe.

What happened instead? Quoth allzingers: “Worst loss of the season.” The Knicks started with some pep but Orlando managed a slim 53-51 lead at halftime, thanks to neither team being able to shoot straight. With the sluggish Knicks missing, missing, missing from deep, the Magic defense strangled them throughout the second half, held the Knicks to 17 in the third quarter, and ultimately won, 103-94.

For the Magic, Greg’s boy Cole Anthony scored 24 points, hit 3-of-6 from deep, and grabbed seven boards. Off the bench, Wendell Carter, Jr, who rarely makes a trey, hit all three attempts tonight and finished with 19 points. In fact, Orlando’s bench outscored New York’s 50-18. The Magic are the lowest rank longrange shooting team in the league, but they made 11-of-31 tonight.

For the Knicks, Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson both netted 24 points. Josh Hart had a 15-point, 14-board double-double. OG Anunoby scored nine points in his 35 minutes, and Jericho Sims, starting for Towns, grabbed 10 boards.

Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti combined for zero minutes. In a game where the starters sleepwalked and the bench went flat again, it might not have hurt to give the rooks a look. I’ll submit a comment card to the coach.

So, instead of steamrolling a who’s-that-guy Magic team, the Knicks lost their third straight. Ah, hubris.

First Half

The Knicks jumped out to a quick 13-6 lead with Orlando shooting blanks. Josh Hart got off to a blistering start with seven points and four rebounds in under six minutes.

Thanks to offensive rebounds, the Disneys managed to gain a little ground and mount a 6-2 run. Mikal Bridges had a response, however. Bridges scored nine points, making four of his six field goal attempts tonight.

Orlando missed all seven first-quarter three-point attempts, and the Knicks were up 28-24 after one quarter. Their captain, Jalen Brunson, started off rocky but found traction as the quarter ran on.

With a 13-9 start, the Magic tied the game early in the second frame. Goga Bitadze was working the glass and making the pass for his depleted Magic teammates. With Karl-Anthony towns out, the Magic had a rebounding advantage and used it to gain a slim lead by the midway point.

Reservist Jett Howard hit a turnaround trey at the buzzer to give Orlando a 53-51 lead. Cole Anthony led the Magic with 10 points on 12 field goal attempts, while Jonathan Isaac contributed eight points and four offensive rebounds. Bridges was the Knicks’ leading scorer with 13 points. New York had hit just 3-of-15 from downtown, Orlando fared a hair better with 3-of-16, and this lackluster game was not quite yet the blowout we expected.

Second Half

Woof.

While the Brickerbockers continued to dent the rim, Cole Anonthy swished and gave the Magic an eight-point advantage. The Garden crowd grumbled, and the Knicks responded to their displeasure with energy, if not efficiency. New York missed all three triples they attempted in the quarter and managed just 17 points total. Josh Hart tried to supply the spark, but the fire didn’t catch. The Knicks cut their deficit to five before falling behind by 10. When the quarter closed, the Floridians were up, 75-68.

Mike Breen said that the Magic have the NBA’s best fourth-quarter defense, statistically speaking. That didn’t bode well for our heroes. Neither did Jalen Brunson missing two free throws to start the frame. However, at the five-ish minute mark, it was Cap who nabbed a timely steal and hit a floater to trim the hole to six points. Here he finds Precious Achiuwa for an easy flush.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter, Jr. answered with rare triples to put the Knicks down by 11 with three minutes remaining. Cole Anthony hit another! Meanwhile, the ‘Bockers missed 15 straight. As the game ran out, Cameron Payne chucked in a bomb from deep. It came during garbage time, although wasn’t the entire second half garbage time? Hit the notes.

Notes

• With his one three-pointer, Mikal Bridges reached 900 for his career. Could’ve used a couple more—he sank just 1-of-7 tonight.
• The Knicks’s 17 points matched their fewest in a third quarter this season—a low set in their previous game against the Bulls.
• Jericho Sims’ career-high for rebounds in a game is 14. He finished the night with 10.
• On this date in 1994, the Knicks traded Tony Campbell and a 1997 1st-round draft pick (John Thomas was later selected) for Derek Harper. With New York, Harper averaged 11.7 points and 4.8 assists in 216 games.
• Tom Thibodeau has been successful on 16-of-19 challenges this season.
• New York’s tied their season-low for made-threes in a game—coincidentally set against the Magic on December 27.

Up Next

The Raptors come to town on Wednesday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.

Box Score