The Orlando Magic put an offensive onslaught on the New York Knicks early, finding just enough defense and energy to close them out.
Orlando Magic
131
New York Knicks
117Frustration was written on the Orlando Magic’s faces.
They had dominated the first quarter to build as much as an 18-point lead and tied a franchise record with 44 points in the opening quarter. Aaron Gordon scored 20 points in the quarter and the Magic made their first 10 shots. Everything seemed so easy.
This was not a game they wanted to be frustrated. But it was written all over their faces as Enes Kanter picked up offensive rebounds and players like Trey Burke attacked and paraded to the line.
Their frustration was clear as they could not put the New York Knicks away. Nikola Vucevic picked up a technical foul in the second half, peeved with an apparent noncall and the team’s struggles to get itself together.
The standard is indeed a bit higher.
The Knicks never led. Every push came with an equal response. And the Magic held on 131-117 at the Amway Center on Sunday, pushing the team’s record above .500 for the first time since the opening night win.
The last burst the team needed came in the fourth quarter with Jonathan Isaac running down the lane and flying to the basket. His length on full display in one key sequence where he blocked a shot and then cut to where D.J. Augustin perfectly delivered a no-look pass for a one-handed jam.
The Magic found that little bit they needed. Their lone offensive lapse came in the second quarter as the Knicks inched back into the game. Otherwise, they were cruising offensively, shooting 57.1 percent from the floor and 40.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Knicks were not going to stop them. And the Magic always found their offensive answer even if their defense was a bit inconsistent.
None of that matters, of course. In the end, the Magic made more than enough plays to win the game. Even with the Knicks doing a lot of things that might ultimately cost the Magic games in the future — 35 free throw attempts and 17 offensive rebounds chief among them — the Magic had enough to score the victory.
He scored 20 of his 31 points in the first quarter and made his first seven shots. He moved with precision, cutting to the basket and taking advantage of every space the New York Knicks gave him.
It was expected that would slow down. Perhaps it was the injury that took him a bit out of rhythm when he came out after the first quarter. It was asking a lot for him to keep up that torrid pace. Gordon’s game did not really change. The Magic’s ball movement slowed some and that took away some of Gordon’s looks.
Vucevic scored 28 points to go with 10 rebounds and nine assists. He was a fulcrum for the team offensively as he always is. His passing was fantastic as he found players cutting smoothly off him. And he was strong offensively, making his jumper and getting tot he foul line even for six attempts.
The only issue with Nikola Vucevic was how much he had to cover for others on the perimeter, leaving Enes Kanter to attack the offensive glass. That is not all on Vucevic. But Orlando needed a better effort from everyone on the glass. Vucevic produced and held his own. He stepped up on the glass at the end when the team needed him.
This was Isaac at his best. He made an impact defensively with a block and several other shots changed along with two steals. But his smarts on the floor continue to stand out. And not just on defense.
Isaac scored 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting. A lot of that came from recognizing the defense and cutting at the right moment. He finished expertly at the rim with both finesse and power. Isaac is someone the team knows it has to be patient with. But he makes a big impact and it is good to have him back.
His scoring was solid too for a second straight night as Augustin poured in 12 points on 3-for-4 shooting. His +17 showed just how good the Magic played when he was on the court. That has generally been the case throughout this win streak.
But his defensive shortcomings still exist. It existed for all three of the Magic’s point guards. Trey Burke had his way in this one scoring 31 points off the bench. Even Emmanuel Mudiay did a good job attacking D.J. Augustin with his size. There is no overcoming that with Augustin. He made up for it for the most part.
Enes Kanter was nearly unstoppable with 21 points and 19 rebounds, grabbing eight offensive rebounds. New York had 21 second-chance points on 17 rebounds. And New York got to the line for 35 free throw attempts, making 29. Those are all formulae for Orlando to lose.
But the Knicks could not get their offense going in the half-court super effectively. Nor could they stop the Magic’s offense consistently. That is the problem with these Knicks right now. Nothing seems permanent or consistent. Much less, their defense.
The Orlando Magic close their homestand Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors.
