Knicks cruise past Magic 121-106 in the NBA Cup, advance to knockout round

The New York Knicks punched their ticket to the NBA Cup quarterfinals with a dominant 121-106 win over the Orlando Magic. Powered by Karl-Anthony Towns’ 23 points and 15 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson’s steady 21 points, the Knicks wrapped up Group A with a perfect 4-0 record, earning the second seed in the tournament.

The Magic, playing without Paolo Banchero, who is sidelined indefinitely with a torn oblique, briefly seized an early 14-6 lead. However, once the Knicks’ offense found its rhythm, it was game over for Orlando. A 50-32 lead early in the second quarter set the tone, and the Knicks never let the Magic back into the game.

New York’s offense was a masterpiece, logging 30 assists and showcasing contributions from every corner of the roster. Josh Hart posted an eye-popping triple-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Mikal Bridges poured in 19 points, including a deep 22-foot three-pointer late in the third quarter that stretched the Knicks’ lead to a game-high 103-66.

OG Anunoby chipped in 18 points on a near-perfect 7-of-10 shooting night, and Miles McBride provided a spark off the bench with 18 points, knocking down 5-of-7 from deep.

For the Magic, Franz Wagner delivered a game-high 30 points, with Moritz Wagner adding 20 off the bench. But without Banchero, the Magic’s offense sputtered, especially from beyond the arc, where they shot a dismal 23.1% compared to the Knicks’ 42.9%.

The Knicks’ victory came with a silver lining: while they were outscored by 16 points in the final six minutes, falling short of the 37-point margin needed to face the Celtics in the quarterfinals, they now avoid that tougher matchup.

“We were aware that if we won by 37 or more we would’ve … no idea.”

– Josh Hart

Instead, the Knicks will host the Atlanta Hawks on December 11, a favorable outcome secured by their superior group record and second-place seeding behind Milwaukee, who remain unbeaten but lead on scoring differential.

Up-next: The Knicks (13-8) will host the Hornets (6-15) on Thursday from 7:30pm