The New York Knicks handed the Orlando Magic their first loss at home in a gritty defensive battle, 109-101. 

The Knicks survived a turnover-prone mess of a first half through tough defense and excellent three-point shooting. New York held Orlando to 41 points, grabbing nearly 29 first-half rebounds. While the offense struggled to protect the ball, the Knicks left the half with a ten-point lead thanks to scoring from their top-three options.

The second half didn’t look much different, except for more whistles. The Knicks increased their lead, but the scrappy Magic always fought back to keep things within reach. New York finished with a comfortable lead.

The Knicks took care of business against a physical opponent and stepped up defensively thanks to on-ball pressure. On the other hand, Orlando’s physicality forced New York to shoot less ball movement and more turnovers. 

Let’s learn more through the individual performances.