By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks 103-94 on Monday at Madison Square Garden.
The Magic improved to 22-16, while the Knicks fell to 24-13.
The Knicks have lost three in a row after winning 9 in a row.
Cole Anthony had a team-high 24 points with seven rebounds and four assists. He also knocked down three 3-pointers.
Wendell Carter Jr. had his best performance of the season. Carter added 19 points, shot 8 of 11 from the field, was perfect from the perimeter, going 3 for 3, and had four assists.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 15 points for the Magic. The Magic bench outscored the Knicks bench 50 to 18.
The Magic are not a great three-point shooting team, but in the second half, they went 8 of 15.
The Magic defense held the Knicks to 4-for-22 shooting from 3-point range. Magic is the second-best defensive team in the league. Their size, strength, and athleticism bothered the Knicks.
Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 24 points. Jalen Brunson also had 24 points.
Jamahi Mosley has done an incredible job coaching this Magic team. He’s one of the early candidates for Coach of the Year. He came in with a great game plan to slow down Bridges and Brunson.
Karl Anthony-Towns did not play as he is dealing with right knee pain. Towns is averaging 25.3 points and an NBA-leading 14 rebounds.
The Magic outhustled, outplayed, and out-coached the Knicks. No Paolo Banchero, no Jalen Suggs, and no Wagner brothers. Those are the top four best scorers on the team.
The Knicks’ defense continues to struggle. In the fourth quarter, the Magic tortured them from downtown.
Is the high-minute staffing needed to catch up with them? The Knicks have been dealing with injuries, so physical fatigue could be a factor.
The Knicks will take the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday on the road.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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