Paolo Banchero is injured, but the Magic calm the Knicks

The Magic may have found his cruising speed. The Florida franchise hit hard on Wednesday with a win against the Knicks (107-124), in great form recently and winners of their first seven games at home.

The start of the match sets the tone. Paolo Banchero slap attempt Jalen Brunson etc Desmond Bane went on the counterattack, pushing Mike Brown to take the first timeout after barely two minutes of play. The Knicks dominated in intensity and were limited to just six points in five minutes, having scored more than 130 in their last three outings. Jalen Brunson is the only one who has found some solutions to finish or create, and New York is sliding. The hosts briefly return to two points, but the Magic substitutes continue the good start of the holders, +7 Orlando after 12 minutes (23-30).

The Magic’s defense is exhausting, and the Knicks are giving in to frustration. The visitors score 11-2 and increase the first logical deficit, with the first basket by Paolo Banchero, who until then did not have to push his talent offensively (28-41). The Orlando star, however, ended the night prematurely with an adductor injury midway through the second quarter. A hard hit for Jamal Mosley’s practice? Not for one Franz Wagner masked after a nose injury sustained during the previous match against Portland.

Knicks offense at a standstill

The German is exceptional with his 17 points in the first period. The Knicks are in agony on offense, scoring just 19 points in the second quarter. At the break, the score is clear: 42-62, despite the exit of Buncher, and the duo of Suggs and Bain with three errors each!

Things got a little better for New York on the restart, with a quick 7-0 run to get back on track. But one action sums up the dynamics of the game. Jalen Brunson draws three defenders and finds Josh Hart bottom line.

The wing, however, was picked out by Sags with a masterful counter. In transition, the Magic leader is altruistic and Wendell Carter Jr finds sights from afar after two well-felt extra passes. Not even good offensive passages are enough for the Knicks, who were systematically punished in return by Wagner (28 points, 9 rebounds), Carter Jr. Goga Bitadze.

After three quarters, the gap stabilizes at about twenty points, but New York does not give up. Two big 3-point shots from Karl-Anthony Towns etc Jordan Clarkson bring the locals back to 11 points. Madison Square Garden roared with six minutes left when Brunson pulled his team back under ten points for the first time since the start of the second quarter. But, then, Suggs immediately showers the room behind the arch Anthony Black continues his final act fest (9 of his 17 points off the bench), also with a 3-pointer. Jalen Brunson tries everything, but it’s too late.

Worse, he sprained the ankle on Carter Jr.’s foot as Mass said with 15 points down and less than two minutes to play. A bittersweet conclusion to a painful night for the Knicks.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– The real start of the season in Orlando? No doubt, we have found magic. Physical, even quite difficult for certain contacts, the team from Florida found its defensive DNA to cool the Knicks in the first period (33.3% shooting on the break, 28-19 rebounds). The Magic have regained a balanced record (6 wins – 6 losses) and appear to be fired up.

– Jalen Brunson is very lonely. As it often happens, the New York maestro was omnipresent all evening with 31 points and 6 assists. His lieutenants cannot say that. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled to respond to the Magic’s physical challenge (15 points on 6/15 shooting, 5 fouls). Mikal Bridges finished with six low points, OG Anunoby with just four attempts in 34 minutes. This is too little to go the distance against an opponent of this caliber.

– Magic lose Paolo Buncher, Knicks tremble for Jalen Branson. For his 23rd birthday, Paolo Banchero was treated for problems with his adductor muscles. The Magic forward left 6 minutes into the second quarter, and will have an MRI to determine the nature of his injury, but did not seem concerned after the game. It may be different in New York, as Jalen Brunson walked out of the room on crutches and wearing a protective right ankle boot.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.