Orlando Magic Falls at Home: Knicks Dominate in a Cracking Contest
After a stellar unbeaten streak at home since March, the Orlando Magic finally met their match at the KIA Center, falling to the formidable New York Knicks led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Without their top players, the challenge proved too great for the Magic.
For complete stats from this matchup, click here.
For a moment, it felt like the Magic might pull off another gritty win, showcasing their tenacity. This team has shown an incredible ability to fight through adversity, even with their two star players sidelined for several weeks. However, against a Knicks squad loaded with talent, Orlando needed a herculean effort to secure the win. Mo Wagner looked to be the hero of the night, delivering what could arguably be the best performance of his career, dropping a stunning 32 points off the bench!
Despite Wagner’s efforts, the Magic struggled with their long-range shooting, and a tense, off-night from Jalen Suggs compounded their woes. In the final stretch, Orlando buckled under the relentless pressure from Jalen Brunson, who poured in 31 points, and a hungry Karl-Anthony Towns, who dominated with a monster double-double: 22 points and 22 rebounds!
This defeat marks the Magic’s first home loss of the season, as they were the last team to maintain an unbeaten record on their turf. To put this in perspective, you’d have to rewind to late March 2024 to find the last time Orlando stumbled at home—when Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers were the ones to hand them that defeat. Fast forward nine months, and the KIA Center has finally been conquered by another franchise.