Knicks Blow 10-Pt Lead in 4th as Wagner Goes Nuts. Orlando 111 NY 102

October 26, 2026 LouV 2026-27 0
Andre Drummond's number = number of Knick wins so far this season, as they drop to 0-3.

The Knicks had a 10-pt lead over Orlando with 9 minutes left at Madison Square Garden and looked like they were headed to their first win of the season.

But their defense concentrated on Orlando’s 3-pt snipers, and Franz Wagner started to run amok against Knick backup center James Wiseman — and Wagner got on a ROLL — scoring 21 pts in the period to catapult the Magic to a 111-102 win. The loss put NY’s record at 0-3.

Wagner had 2 pts entering the 4th quarter, and finished with 23. This was a night where the Knicks sorely missed Mitchell Robinson. Andre Drummond played well in the 1st half in 7 minutes, but was not used down the stretch as NY instead turned to Wiseman — as Drummond was gassed in the 2nd half of the prior game.

The Knicks also shot horribly from 3 on the night — 9-38 for 24% — while Orlando shot 18-42 for 43%.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks all night, and finished with 22 pts and 14 rebounds, although he kept heat-checking 3’s from beyond the arc and was 0-4 from there. OG Anunoby had 22 pts on 6-11 shooting (3-6 from 3). Jalen Brunson had 28 pts on 12-28 shooting (1-7 from 3). Mikal Bridges finally put some pts on the board — but only 6 in 35 minutes on 3-7 shooting (0-3 from 3).

NY also turned the ball over too much. Overall, Orlando had 15 turnovers to NY’s 14 — but 7 of the Knick turnovers came in the 4th quarter against a tight Orlando defense coached by rookie coach Sean Sweeney.

“Poor decision making by me late in the game,” said Brunson afterwards. Ball’s not falling in for us, I think we’ve gotten some good looks throughout the game but the little things we can control that helps contribute to wins.”

NY starts the season 0-3; Orlando gets their first win and are now 1-2.

1. Knicks Jump out to 12-0 Lead

The Knicks came out looking to avenge their 0-2 record and took it to Orlando early, jumping out to a 12-0 lead. Josh Hart hit a deuce and a 3 to begin the game, then OG hit a 3, and Hart scored another bucket before Brunson hit a pullup.

Orlando pushed back, but still NY had a 26-15 lead with 1:51 left in the quarter, due in large part to KAT who joined the scoring.

A Jase Richardson 3 with 1.5 seconds left in the period pulled Orlando within 28-21.

2. Orlando’s 3-Pt Snipers Keep them In It; NY by 4 at Half

Jose Alvarado was out for NY — so Tyler Kolek became the point guard off the bench, with Miles McBride at shooting guard for the 2nd team. Andre Drummond looked good again as the backup center — playing 7 minutes in the 1st half (and the game), and James Wiseman played — and blocked a shot.

Landry Shamet played well for NY as the Knicks continued to hold a single-digit lead which would have been more but Orlando kept in it on 3-pt shooting by Tristan da Silva (19 pts, 5-9 from 3) and Anthony Black (18 pts, 5-7 from 3) off the bench, and starter Desmond Bane (22 pts, 4-9 from 3).

3. Knicks Lead by 4 After 3 Quarters

The Knicks looked like they would take the game in the 3rd quarter — pulling out to a 65-55 lead with 6 minutes left on a KAT offensive rebound and Brunson step back.

But again — back-to-back 3’s by da Silva and Bane put Orlando right back in the game, 4 pts down.

OG pushed back with a 3 — but da Silva and Black hit consecutive 3’s to pull Orlando within 1 pt at 70-69 NY.

KAT and Josh Hart got buckets in the closing 2 minutes to put NY up 6, but a Nikola Vucevic hook with 2 seconds left made it a 4-pt game entering the 4th.

4. OG Leads Knicks to 10-Pt Lead in 4th

OG Anunoby started cooking early in the 4th — hitting a drive-and-1, a 3, and another drive for 8 straight Knick points to put NY up 86-76 with 9:20 left.

5. Knicks Missed Mitch; Wagner Goes Off in 4th

NY’s defense was keyed on stopping Orlando’s 3-pt snipers, but Franz Wagner — who only had 2 pts in the game to this point — started to go to work inside against James Wiseman, and then got on such a roll that nobody could stop him, even when KAT came back.

Wagner scored inside on bucket after bucket — or went to the line for free throws when he didn’t score outright.

Wagner carried Orlando back into a 91-89 lead with 5:37 left.

KAT scored inside to tie it, but then Desmond Bane hit a 3 and Anthony Black followed with a 3 and Orlando was up 98-91 with 3:42 left.

On the other end, NY kept misfiring on their 3’s. Brunson finally hit a bucket inside to pull NY with 4 at 98-94 with 2:42 left — but Wagner went to work inside again for consecutive buckets and a 102-94 Orlando lead.

Brunson missed 2 free throws and Bane hit a jumper for a 10-pt Orlando lead with 1:21 left and that was pretty much the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401909863

 

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