Last season, the Orlando Magic’s first win of the season got here in Madison Square Garden.
History had a likelihood to repeat itself Monday because the 0-3 Magic got here to New York in search of a victory. It didn’t occur, because the Knicks topped the Magic, 115-102, regardless of one other 20-plus level efficiency by Paolo Banchero and a career-night by Bol Bol.
Banchero received off to a quick begin, scoring six of Orlando’s first 10 factors, highlighted by throwing down an alley-top in transition from Cole Anthony.
Banchero and Cole Anthony every completed with eight factors in the quarter however the staff struggled from deep, going 1-for-9 in the primary. That included Chuma Okeke lacking all three of his makes an attempt and Mo Bamba lacking each of his.
The Magic additionally struggled on the glass, permitting the Knicks six offensive rebounds in the primary for 11 second-chance factors that helped New York open an eight-point benefit. Orlando went with out a discipline aim for the ultimate four-plus minutes of the quarter till Caleb Houstan scored his first career factors by hitting a jumper with 3.8 seconds left to chop the deficit to 34-28.
Houstan then opened the second along with his first career three and Banchero adopted with a drive to tug the Magic inside one. Then the Bol Bol present started as he matched his career-high in the 10-plus second-quarter minutes. He scored 11 factors in the quarter by scoring in a number of methods, from coast-to-coast-drives to threes (banked in) to put-back dunks.
But the Magic trailed 65-59 on the half after capturing 44.7 % and making simply 4 of 20 makes an attempt from three. The Knicks did not fare significantly better from deep, going 5 of 18. Orlando did a stable job of attending to the road, making 13 of 15 makes an attempt. That was led by Banchero, who had 16 factors in 17 first-half minutes, going 5-for-9 from the sector and 6-for-7 from the road.
A 3 by Wendell Carter Jr. and drive by Anthony capped an 8-0 Magic run that evened the rating at 67-67 early in the third. The threes continued to fall as Terrence Ross and Carter related to place the Magic again in entrance at 73-71 with 7:32 left.
The Magic once more went four-plus minutes with out a discipline aim and the Knicks closed that stretch with an 11-2 run to open an 87-76 lead. The lead grew to 14 when a Bamba turnover led to a fairly quick break by the Knicks that ended with an Obi Toppin behind the again cross to R.J. Barrett for the one-handed slam and a 94-80 benefit.
The Magic pulled inside single digits after Banchero grabbed a rebound and went coast-to-coast for the lay-in to make it 99-90 with 8:15 remaining in the fourth. With that bucket, Banchero turned simply the third No. 1 choose in NBA historical past to attain 20-plus factors in every of his first 4 video games, becoming a member of Elvin Hayes and Oscar Robertson.
A pair of free throws by Bol and a put-back dunk by Carter Jr. introduced the Magic inside six at 104-98 with 4:25 to go. But Jalen Brunson adopted with a step-back jumper plus the foul to place the Knicks again up by 9, and the Magic wouldn’t get any nearer.
Julius Randle had 25 factors and 12 rebounds, Brunson had 21 factors and 6 assists, and Barrett had 20 factors and 6 rebounds. The Knicks grabbed 18 offensive rebounds for 27 second-chance factors in the win. Though, the Magic produced 24 second-chance factors of their very own.
Banchero completed with 21 factors on 6-for-13 capturing (0 of three from deep) and 9-for-11 from the road.
Bol, who performed his approach into some crunch-time minutes in a lineup the place Wagner ran the purpose, had a career-high 19 factors in 20 minutes, going 8-for-10 from the sector whereas additionally grabbing 5 rebounds and blocking 4 pictures.
Carter Jr. had 17 factors and 11 rebounds. Franz Wager added 14 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists. Anthony had 14 factors however struggled from the sector, going 6-for-18 and lacking all 5 of his makes an attempt for deep.
The Magic mixed to go 7-for-35 from three whereas capturing 41.9 % in the sport.
They fall to 0-4 and face one other powerful match-up on Wednesday after they head to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers.
