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The Knicks comfortably advanced past Group A play of the NBA Cup on Tuesday night, cruising to a 121-106 win over the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden.
Here are the takeaways…
— While the Magic opened the game unexpectedly draining their first three shots (all from behind the arc), it didn’t take long for the Knicks to establish dominance across the floor. After trailing by eight points early on, they orchestrated an 11-0 run midway through the first quarter and led 36-27 when the buzzer sounded. New York scored 12 points inside the paint in as many minutes.
— The Knicks extended their lead to 14 points early in the second quarter, which ignited the MSG crowd and forced the Magic to burn a timeout. The lead eventually climbed to 22 points, defying Orlando’s status as one of the NBA’s best defensive units. The Magic had entered the game ranked first in the league in points allowed per game (102.3) and third in defensive rating (104.5). Of the Knicks’ starters, only Jalen Brunson fell short of double-digit points in the first half.
— New York fittingly wrapped up its stellar first half with a buzzer-beater. With just 2.4 seconds left in the second quarter, Mikal Bridges banked a three-point attempt from the left wing, bumping the lead to 71-51 at halftime. Bridges’ highlight bucket was set up by a full-court inbound pass from Josh Hart that touched Karl-Anthony Towns atop the key and ultimately deflected to Bridges. The Knicks shot a solid 58 percent (26-of-45) from the floor and logged 32 paint points.
— Brunson wasted no time joining in on the scoring frenzy. He racked up 13 points in the third quarter, finished the game with 21, and showcased his signature razzle-dazzle by attacking the basket and drawing fouls. The Knicks didn’t take their foot off the gas, either, as the lead reached a whopping 36 points midway through the third, 106-75.
— Orlando managed to trim its overwhelming deficit down to 28 points midway through the fourth quarter, and a lapse from the Knicks’ defense prompted a timeout called by head coach Tom Thibodeau. But the final result was never in question. In garbage time, the Magic…
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Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-12-04 03:10:00
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