Knicks Literally Limp Into All-Star Break, Hexed By Banchero, Magic Again
The Orlando Magic have cast an undeniable spell upon the New York Knicks this season
Orlando had one last parting gift for the hobbled Knicks, knocking New York for the third time this season to the tune of a 118-100 defeat at Kia Center on Wednesday night. The Magic, three-time winners over the Knicks for the first time since 2017-18, dealt New York its first four-game losing streak in over a calendar year (January 2023) thanks in part to a 36-point effort from Paolo Banchero.
A lengthy Manhattan injury report that saw six rotational Knicks sit out certainly didn't help matters: Bojan Bogdanovic (hamstring) and Donte DiVincenzo (hamstring) each joined OG Anunoby (elbow), Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles), and Julius Randle (shoulder) in street clothes, limiting the Knicks to nine dressed men.
Jeremy Reper, USA TODAY SPORTS
In their absences, Jalen Brunson did whatever he could to hold down the fort and keep the Knicks (33-22) in the game despite all odds. The first 12 minutes hinted at a prayer: Brunson scored 20 points in the opening period alone, putting the Knicks ahead 36-27.
But Orlando (30-25) swiftly handled business from there on out: an Alec Burks triple to open the second briefly put the Knicks ahead by double figures but a Magic run of 17 straight not only set the tone for a second period that saw Orlando double up the Knicks 38-19 but featured the final lead change of the day. Between scoring and assists, all but two points in that stretch involved the efforts of the Wagner brothers Franz and Moritz.
Brunson could only watch the Magic eat at the lead he established, as he sat on the bench for nearly the first five minutes after playing the entire opening period. Even if Brunson was able to keep up his torrid first period pace, it probably wouldn't have been enough to stifle the Magic's efforts as a team: Orlando shot over 71 percent from the field, with Banchero going 9-of-10 on his own en route to a 65-55 lead at intermission.
The latter two periods were futile exercises in conditioning for the Knicks, who never got the deficit back down to a single digit. Banchero and Franz Wagner mostly took care of scoring while Brunson was followed by Jonathan Isaac for the rest of the night, preventing him from generating any offensive momentum.
Beyond Brunson, Precious Achuiwa impressed while working overtime, putting up 23 points and 14 rebounds (10 offensive) in 43 minutes. Jacob Toppin was afforded extra time as Orlando stretched its lead out to as high as 23, scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 from the field in 17.
One more meeting between the Knicks and Magic lingers this season, as Orlando visits Madison Square Garden on March 8. The Magic have not swept the Knicks in a four-game set since the 2001-02 season.
The Knicks return to action on Feb. 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers. In the meantime, Brunson and Banchero will rep the Eastern Conference at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night in Indianapolis (8 p.m. ET, TNT).
