The New York Knicks suffered another setback, losing for the third consecutive time, this time to the Orlando Magic by a score of 103-94 at Madison Square Garden. After an impressive run in which they won nine straight games and 19 of 23, the Knicks now face serious concerns as depth issues plague the team.
Missing key players like All-Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns, sidelined with a knee injury, and sixth man Miles McBride, out with a hamstring injury, the Knicks faced a Magic team particularly diminished. Orlando was without key contributors such as franchise cornerstone Paolo Banchero and star guard Jalen Suggs, but still managed to overtake the Knicks.
The night started well for New York, which held a slight 28-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, they fell short in the second quarter, trailing 53-51 at halftime. This lack of ability to maintain their advantage marked the third straight game where they struggled in the second half, having lost the final quarters 63-41 to the Thunder and 76-54 to the Bulls.
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Coach Tom Thibodeau’s choices highlighted the depth challenges facing the Knicks, as he had to start Jericho Sims in place of Towns. Sims managed to make some minor contributions, but couldn’t fill the void left by their All-Star center. The bench problems continued, with Orlando’s reserves outscoring the Knicks 48-18, a trend that puts enormous pressure on the starters.
Jalen Brunson led the team with 24 points, but suffered an eye hit that left him with a visible mark and ultimately committed a fateful foul late in the game. Mikal Bridges also continued to impress with 24 points, albeit a mediocre 1-of-7 from three-point range. Josh Hart contributed with a solid double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, but the team as a whole struggled, finishing a disappointing 4 of 22 on three-pointers.
As the Knicks aim to return to form, the urgency to secure a victory against the struggling Toronto Raptors is felt, especially with the expected return of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. After this game, the challenge of the season intensifies as playoff contenders such as the Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks loom, putting the Knicks’ depth and performance in the spotlight.
