The New York Knicks continued their spectacular run this season, securing a hard-fought 106-100 victory over the Orlando Magic.
The win marks their third consecutive victory and solidifies their maintain on the second seed within the Jap Convention with an improved 16-7 file.
Jalen Brunson was the engine behind the victory, orchestrating the offense with a dominant efficiency of 30 factors and 9 assists.
Josh Hart was equally instrumental, delivering a gritty double-double with 17 factors and 12 rebounds. His relentless vitality helped the Knicks win the rebound battle and set the tone for his or her defensive hustle all through the night time.
On the Magic aspect, Jalen Suggs led the group in scoring with 17 factors, although the entire group struggled to search out their rhythm, capturing simply 38.3% from the sector.
The sport took a somber flip within the first quarter when Magic star Franz Wagner suffered a decrease leg damage that dominated him out for the rest of the competition.
The damage occurred throughout a transition play when Wagner tried to complete an alley-oop.
Knicks middle Ariel Hukporti contested the play, making contact with the German ahead, who landed awkwardly.
Wagner was visibly in ache and needed to be helped to the locker room by group workers, a regarding sight for Orlando followers.
The Magic launched a press release shortly after, confirming that Wagner will probably be re-evaluated upon the group’s return to Orlando.
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Whereas Brunson led the scoring cost, OG Anunoby supplied an important offensive spark.
Anunoby completed with 21 factors on extremely environment friendly 57.1% capturing, together with pulling down 5 of his seven three-point makes an attempt.
Notably, all of his factors got here from the sector (zero free throws), and he performed a mistake-free recreation with zero turnovers.
This efficiency was a big bounce-back for the ahead, who simply got here again from damage and has been struggled lately, making simply three of his final 17 three-point makes an attempt over the earlier 4 video games.
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Sunday marked Paolo Banchero’s second recreation again after lacking 10 video games because of damage, and the rust was nonetheless evident.
Whereas he managed to achieve double figures with 16 factors in 25 minutes, an enchancment from his nine-point outing towards the Miami Warmth, effectivity stays a difficulty.
Banchero shot simply 36.4% from the sector and completed with a -10 plus-minus score.
With Wagner doubtless sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Magic will want Banchero to shake off the rust shortly and reclaim his function because the group’s major offensive weapon in the event that they hope to remain aggressive within the East.
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