In the Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee, hopes were high that the New York Knicks (23-17) would easily dispose of the Orlando Magic (22-18). The Magic don’t score many points, but they do play tough defense, and the Knicks just couldn’t summon the energy to hold onto an 11-point lead in this one.
New York was ahead by two points after a sluggish first half in which they shot 25% from deep. Their shooting improved in the third frame, but could muster only 16 fourth-quarter points as the Magic, led by Paolo Banchero (20 points) and Cole Anthony (15), came from behind.