ORLANDO, Fla. – New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and Josh Hart posted 23 as the Knicks used a dominating third quarter to defeat the Orlando Magic, 108-85, in Kia Arena on Friday.
Jalen Suggs led the Magic with 22 and Goga Bitadke scored 14 as the Magic dropped their second loss in a row while losing five of their last seven.
“Same thing we saw last night, turnovers,” said Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley. “We were doing a great job in that first half of getting the shots that we wanted, executing the right way. You have eight turnovers in the third quarter alone and that’s when the game ballooned.”
The Magic took an early 16-8 lead behind the shooting of Suggs and Bitadze. At the 4:29 mark of the first quarter, when Brunson scored from the right wing and Bridges’ layup tied the game at 18-18, the Knicks nor the Magic did not lead by more than four points until late in the third quarter.
New York (21-10) posted a 9-0 run late in the third to take a 74-65 lead over Orlando with 1:51 remaining. Then, the Knicks used a 23-9 run in the first seven minutes of the fourth period to take a 99-77 lead with 4:32 remaining.
Hart scored nine of his 23 points to pace the Knicks as Karl Anthony-Towns slam provided that 99-77 lead.
“I mean you (have to) give them credit for getting back in transition, one and two, I think just being able to find the right opportunity, in transition, being able to attack the basket the right way,” said Mosley.
Defensively, the Knicks once again used their persistency to hold Orlando to 7-of-22 from the field in the fourth quarter and allowed only 2-of-9 Magic baskets from three.
“Defensively we picked it up,” Hart said. “We played great. Obviously, Suggs got it going early and he is a great defender. He probably has to learn now he can’t be too aggressive defensively because they need him more offensively in the game.”
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau lauded the team’s defense which has placed it at allowing the 8th fewest points per game (108.1), while the Magic still are at second (103.6 ppg).
Player of the Game – Jalen Brunson continues to look like the top point guard in the NBA from both ends of the floor. He is an incredible offensive player with his shooting ability and ability to pick and choose off the dribble. Defensively, his athleticism, work ethic and size give him a major advantage.
He scored 26 points in 37 minutes and had six points over the last 2:51 to bring the Knicks even at 54-54 at the halftime break.
Karl Anthony-Towns pointed at Brunson’s all-around game as he described what makes the Knicks so successful so far this season.
“We are doing a good job especially when we are allowed to be physical,” commented Towns. “That is when we are at our best. We are capitalizing on our opportunities, able to get stops, getting turnovers, and translating them into points.”
