The Knicks had not droppednthree straight games all season, but this loss to the injury-ravaged Magic exemplified their worst shooting stretch and play of the year.
Let us say it again: this was downright ugly.
With Karl-Anthony Towns out for the third time this season due to a right-knee injury, the Knicks were unable to overcome a poor shooting night in a 103-94 loss to Orlando at the Garden.
The Knicks converted only four of their 22 3-point attempts, one more than the NBA low for the season, and are shooting 28.8 percent from deep over their last six games combined.
Mikal Bridges scored 24 points but missed five of six long-range shots as the Knicks (24-13) began a stretch of 12 of 14 games at home with a loss. They started the day tied with the Pacers for the league’s most road games (13-8).
Jalen Brunson also had 24 points before fouling out, and Josh Hart had 15 with 14 rebounds for the Knicks, while Cole Anthony led the Magic with 24.
“Obviously, we had a busy road schedule, and now it has flipped. Before the game, Tom Thibodeau said, “I believe we have won six in a row at home.” “But you can not see it all at once; instead, focus on the game in front of you. I believe this is significant.
Make certain that you are doing the things required to win.
Thibodeau’s team had done exactly that in their three previous victories over the Magic (22-16) since December 3. No. 4 Despite the continued injuries to Paolo Banchero, brothers Franz and Moe Wagner, and, most recently, Jalen Suggs, Orlando is one spot behind the Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings.
With Towns out after limping off the court late in Saturday’s loss to Chicago, Jericho Sims made his third start of the season, finishing with four points and ten rebounds in 29 minutes.
Bridges scored nine points and Brunson added eight in the final 1:05 after missing his first five shots, giving the Knicks a 28-24 lead after one quarter.
The Magic took a three-point lead midway through the second quarter, and the Knicks trailed 53-51 at halftime after missing 12 of 15 three-point attempts.
Anthony’s three-pointer increased the lead to eight just past the midpoint of the third quarter, shortly after Brunson sat down after being poked in the eye by Goga Bitadze.
Brunson returned with 4:25 remaining and sank a couple of short-range buckets to pull the Knicks within two, but an 8-0 Magic run highlighted by consecutive threes by Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter Jr., as well as two free throws by Anthony Black, made it 75-65.
Precious Achiuwa’s jumper and a Bridges free throw closed the gap to seven entering the final period.
The Knicks trailed by 10 on Carter’s pull-up jumper with 6:55 remaining, but an Achiuwa dunk and a Brunson baseline fadeaway provided hope for a comeback.
But Kentavious Caldwell-Pope drained a 3-pointer, and Carter added another after an Achiuwa turnover, giving the Magic their largest lead of the game, 95-84, with 3:04 remaining.