Two days after Christmas, it's not a gift for Orlandoincidentally in “back-to-back”, to receive Knicks on a good series, to try to get back on a good dynamic. Issue : Jalen Brunson (26 points, 9 assists) and Josh Hart (23 points, 13 rebounds) did not let the Magic hope when we return from the locker room and new York ended up winning for the sixth time in a row.
First half where the two teams are equal (54-54), between a Magic struggling in attack but helped by its second chances and its few 3-point baskets, and the Knicks dominating in the paint and aggressive for fill their external awkwardness. At the front, Jalen Brunson and Jalen Suggs are already engaged in a very nice duel, but we feel that one team has more margin for error than the other…
Still powered by Jalen Brunson, the New York players continued to press inside after the break and, despite their numerous losses of the ball, the gap began to increase as expected. Particularly because Orlando is not capable of showing consistency offensively, where his game is quite stereotypical. Add to it the contributions of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and especially Josh Hart and you obtain a logical and authoritarian success (108-85).
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– New York, uncompromising after the break. Sixth consecutive victory for the Knicks, who waited one half to make the difference against this Magic team which is always difficult to negotiate. Tom Thibodeau's men, certainly deprived of 3-point success (4 out of 15), were able to rely on great interior domination (60 points to 34), as well as their ability to seek out fouls (24 out of 34 ) like Jalen Brunson. The work is done and the essentials are assured, even if it will be necessary to learn to limit waste with the ball (19 ball losses) afterwards.
– Orlando cracks again. “Back-to-back” without a victory for the Magic who, like the day before against the Heat during the Florida derby, suffered in attack. From 54 points in the first half, Jamahl Mosley's players went to just… 31 points in the second. Jalen Suggs is a little too lonely without Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner and it is complicated, in these conditions, to hope to compete with the big names from the East.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
