NBA | Jalen Brunson, Knicks win over Pink Sizzling Magic

NBA

by the Stephen Bondi.

Jalen Brunson returned and rode a steamroller over a surging group at MSG.

Brunson, who missed the earlier contest with a sore knee, dropped 26 factors because the Knicks toppled the Magic, 98-74, on Friday, a cakewalk highlighted by their dominant protection.

It was the fewest factors allowed by the Knicks since 2012.

The Knicks (37-26), who’re quickly to return OG Anunoby from elbow surgical procedure, tied for fourth within the East with the Magic (37-27), whose five-game successful streak ended.

Brunson’s impression was fast.

He scored 10 factors within the opening quarter, because the Knicks jumped out to a 21-9 lead inside seven minutes.

The lead ballooned to 14 at halftime, then 26 on the finish of the third quarter.

The Magic, who have been 3-0 towards the Knicks this season, by no means took a lead.

Orlando shot simply 34 p.c general and 23 p.c from past the arc.

Other than Brunson, the Knicks’ heroes have been clearly Treasured Achiova (15 factors, 14 rebounds, 39 minutes) and Josh Hart (19 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists in 42 minutes).

Miles McBride added 14 factors off the bench within the wire-to-wire win.

Within the first half, Hart’s power, laced with exuberant yelling and celebration, carried the Knicks.

His putback dunk with about three minutes left within the fourth despatched the gang right into a frenzy and capped off his newest “All Coronary heart” efficiency.

Brunson missed the earlier sport with a sore knee, an damage that Knicks followers have been involved about, conserving him out for all however 47 seconds of Sunday’s victory in Cleveland.

So principally Brunson had 5 days to heal, and the remainder of the 27-year-old appeared good.

He shot 11-for-19 in simply 29 minutes, nailing a game-high 4 treys. His evening then ended with “MVP” chants from the stands.

The Magic, lacking their finest perimeter defender in Jalen Suggs (thigh pressure), had no reply.

The Magic entered the evening with the Celtics because the Knicks’ solely undefeated Japanese group this season.

Orlando and New York are additionally potential playoff opponents after coming into the evening because the fourth and fifth seeds within the East, respectively.

“It will likely be fascinating to see the way it all performs out,” stated Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero, who completed with 23 factors Friday. “It is a powerful race from fourth to eighth, so you do not know how it will shake out these final (19) video games. Nevertheless it’s positively a risk we’ll play them. It is rather a lot to play right here in a playoff sequence. can be good.

Benchero buried the Knicks within the earlier matchup, dropping 36 factors earlier than telling the attacking followers to ‘go dwelling’ on Valentine’s Day in Orlando. On Friday, Banchero informed The Put up that the closure was essential to fight the disrespect Knicks followers felt on their dwelling turf — “After they’re speaking to you by yourself dwelling turf, it is one thing Varies. … After they come to Orlando, you need to ship them dwelling typically.

However he wasn’t placing a lot inventory in a win over a depleted roster.

“I feel we’re simply capable of match their physicality, that is an important factor. They’re some of the bodily groups within the league. I feel we’re capable of match that,” Banchero stated of the primary three video games towards the Knicks this season, all magical victories. “I feel they have been beat rather a lot once we’ve performed them. I do not assume we have performed their complete roster.

In actual fact, the Magic have solely confronted the Knicks this season with at the least one of many following gamers — Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby — out with an damage.

On Friday, Randle and Anunoby have been once more DNPs.

Brunson performed and that was all they wanted to blow the spell.