Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero dunks in front of New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 36 points, Franz Wagner added 21 and the Orlando Magic beat the injury-riddled New York Knicks 118-100 on Wednesday night in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams.
Banchero hit six 3-point shots and the Magic shot 63% against a Knicks team playing with only nine players.
“He’s an All-Star. You’ve got to guard a guy like that with your team,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “And he made his 3s. That was a big thing. But he gets into the paint. He’s big, he’s strong and he has a good mix of shots.”
Jalen Brunson had 33 points and six assists for the Knicks. But after a big first quarter, the Knicks’ healthy All-Star saw his team was overmatched in a fourth straight loss.
“This break is obviously good for us. We’re the walking wounded right now,” Brunson said. “But I’m more than happy with what we’ve been able to do in the first two-thirds of the season. So quick reset and be able to go next week.”
The Knicks take a 33-22 record into their eight-day break. The Magic (30-25) did not win their 30th game last season until March 31, and didn’t reach 30 wins at all in the two seasons before that.
“I think it says a lot,” Banchero said. “We started talking this year about how much we wanted to improve, and now we want to come out after the break and make a final push. I don’t think we’re satisfied but it’s definitely something you can be proud of.”
Brunson scored 20 points in the first quarter, and the Knicks led 39-27 when Alec Burks opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer. But with Brunson on the bench, the Magic ran off 17 straight points — 12 of them by Franz and Moritz Wagner — and moved ahead for the rest of the game.
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