Jalen Brunson delivered a stellar 31-point performance, and Karl-Anthony Towns dominated with 22 points and a season-high 22 rebounds as the New York Knicks earned a 100-91 victory over the Orlando Magic.
The Knicks relied on defensive grit and timely scoring to hand the Magic their first home loss of the season.
Mikal Bridges added 17 points for the Knicks, while Josh Hart contributed across the board with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists. New York’s balanced attack and ability to capitalize in critical moments proved to be the difference in a game initially added to the schedule following the Knicks’ elimination from the NBA Cup tournament.
Moritz Wagner was the lone bright spot for Orlando, pouring in a career-high 32 points to keep the Magic within striking distance. Rookie Tristan da Silva also impressed with a career-best 20 points, showcasing his potential in an increased role. However, the Magic struggled to overcome the absence of key forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who both missed their third consecutive game.
Takeaways
The Knicks leaned on their defense to control the pace, holding Orlando to just 91 points while outrebounding them 45-39. New York also tightened its ball security in the second half, cutting down turnovers to just six after committing 12 in the first two quarters. This allowed the Knicks to pull away in the fourth quarter, where they led by as many as 16 points.
Orlando, meanwhile, couldn’t find consistent offensive rhythm, especially from beyond the arc. The Magic shot a dismal 9-for-30 from three-point range, further hampered by Jalen Suggs’ rough shooting night. Suggs finished with nine points, eight assists, and three blocks but connected on only 4 of 19 attempts before fouling out with 3:59 remaining.
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Key Moment
Early in the fourth quarter, Brunson drilled a crucial three-pointer to restore a double-digit lead for the Knicks. Moments later, Towns delivered a pivotal block, and Josh Hart capped the sequence with a twisting baseline layup that extended New York’s advantage to 85-72 with 7:36 left. This sequence effectively broke the Magic’s momentum and sealed the win for New York.
Key Stats
The Knicks’ ball control proved critical in the second half, where they committed just six turnovers compared to 12 in the first. On the other side, Orlando’s three-point struggles continued, shooting just 30% on the night, slightly below their season average of 31%, the worst in the league.
What’s Next
The Knicks travel to Minnesota on Thursday for a marquee matchup, marking Karl-Anthony Towns’ first regular-season game against his former team. Towns played nine seasons with the Timberwolves before joining New York in the offseason, setting the stage for an emotional reunion.
The Magic, now at the start of a seven-game homestand, will look to rebound when they host Oklahoma City on Thursday. With their frontcourt still missing its primary scorers, Orlando faces the challenge of maintaining consistency in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race.
For New York, this win could be a turning point, as they demonstrated resilience and execution when it mattered most. For Orlando, the loss serves as a reminder of the importance of health and depth in sustaining early-season success.