Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Knick DEFENSE pulled the Knicks out of the Mud in the 3rd and 4th quarters of a PHYSICAL game with the Magic, allowing NY to win easy, 108-85 on a Friday night in Orlando.
A ton of missed wide-open shots by Orlando in the 4th quarter helped too. The Magic are without Paolo Banchero, their superstar and greatest Mexican player ever, and both Wagner brothers — All-Star Franz Wagner and his brother Mo Wagner.
The Magic play a PHYSICAL game with those guys, and now without them seem to play even more physically — to normalize the game into a mud fest. Jalen Suggs, the 6’5 former college football player who plays the most physical game in the NBA, had a great game (27 pts on 10-20 shooting, 4-6 from 3) until he picked up 5 fouls midway through the 3rd. The Knicks immediately capitalized and soon had a double-digit lead.
“He’s a terrific defender but he’s very aggressive,” noted Josh Hart afterwards about Suggs. “Sometimes we use that aggression against him to try to get him into actions and get him in foul trouble. So we were able to do that, and go out there and just execute.”
Brunson led NY with 26 pts on 11-21 shooting and 9 assists; Hart had 23 pts on 7-11 shooting (1-3 from 3), 13 rebounds and a team-high +23.
NY improves to 21-10; Orlando falls to 19-14.
1. Stuck in Mud throughout 1st Half
This was the 3rd time the Knicks were playing Orlando already this season, NY winning the first 2 games easy. In the last game, just 11 days prior on December 17, Jalen Brunson overcame the very physical play of Jalen Suggs, and on top of it, Suggs shot 4-19 from the floor (1-5 from 3).
This time Suggs was out to avenge that performance, and was hitting his shot — both on runners inside and on the 3. Suggs started the game with back-to-back 3’s, then made a drive and another 3 for Orlando’s first 11 points. Orlando’s 6’11 center Goga Bitadze followed with a drive and a 3 and the Magic jumped out to a 16-8 lead.
But the Knicks immediately woke up and came back — tying the game 20-20 after scores by Hart, Towns, Brunson, and Bridges.
let’s go cap 💪
Vote Knicks #NBAAllStar | https://t.co/ZaYEPS04AT pic.twitter.com/GcLAIonJHr
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 28, 2024
2. Orlando Denied Knicks Taking 3’s
Orlando is ranked the 3rd best defensive team in the NBA, with coach Jamahl Mosley instilling a physical brand of defense. They also guard and deny the 3 well. The Knicks only took 15 shots from 3 the whole night, going 4-15. The Magic went 10-33 from 3. And yet the Knicks won by 23 points — which made this game a declaration of some sort in NBA circles.
3. Suggs Picks Up 5th Foul in 3rd
Precious Achiuwa and Josh Hart both missed 2 free throws to end the half — 4 straight free throw misses by NY — so the game was tied 54-54 at the half.
The game remained physical and tight, and in the mud until midway through the 3rd, when Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart started to pick up the intensity and attack Orlando. At 6:23 left in the 3rd, Suggs was called for his 5th foul on a drive by Brunson for a floater-and-1 to tie the game at 63-63. That sent Suggs to the bench and NY started to Roll.
4. Brunson, Hart & DEFENSE Pull Knicks Out of Mud
Brunson hit another drive, OG Anunoby scored inside off a Brunson assist, Hart got fouled on a tough drive and made free throws, Brunson hit a drive, and Hart closed out the period with an offensive rebound and tip-in with .4 seconds left. NY was up 76-68 after 3.
🗣️ HART. OF. THE. CITY.
Vote Knicks #NBAAllStar | https://t.co/ZaYEPS04AT pic.twitter.com/BdQRmwcM6H
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 28, 2024
Brunson got to the line to start the 4th, then Hart hit a drive-and-1 and popped an open 3 and NY was out of the mud and off to the races with an 83-70 lead.
Brunson & Hart made it happen on both ends to bring the Knicks their 6th straight W 🔥
Brunson: 26 PTS, 9 AST, 2 STL
Hart: 23 PTS, 13 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/6cHxTxDYvv— NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2024
“Notice how 50/50 balls wind up as 20/80 balls when it’s Josh Hart or how he beats you on the glass?,” asked NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “It’s not unreal athleticism, size or a 45+vertical rather it’s hunger, desire, his will to outwork you along with just wanting it more while always knowing and playing his role.”
Mikal Bridges stole the ball and went the length of the court for an 85-70 NY lead. Orlando Magic timeout.
.@mikal_bridges doing mikal things ⚡️
Vote Knicks #NBAAllStar | https://t.co/ZaYEPS04AT pic.twitter.com/p6FDTAJoNy
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 28, 2024
Suggs finally came back in the game with 10:36 left and made a bucket and a drive-and-1 but it was too late. Brunson continued to attack the rim, joined by Hart and Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knick D was intense, and on the times when Orlando got open looks — they missed chippy’s.
It was all NY down the stretch for the easy 108-85 win.
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