Mario Hezonja shines in Knicks’ loss to Magic

Mario Hezonja scored a career-high 29 points but his effort wasn’t enough for the Knicks to connect back to back wins as they dropped their 63rd game of the season, 100-114 in Orlando against his former team.

Boxscore

Coach David Fizdale had promised him earlier in the season that he will start him in their last game against the Magic no matter what.

“I told him earlier in the season, I said the last game we play against Orlando, no matter where you are in the rotation, I promise I’ll start you.”

– Dave Fizdale

 

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Hezonja was one rebound away from locking a double double, dished 5 dimes and shot 50% from the field while logging 34 minutes on the court. He got into a thing with the mascot and the crowd after blocking Stuff’s over-the-head halfcourt shot but won them back after the second attempt when the two hugged.

The Knicks trailed by as many as 16 in the third quarter, then cut it to just two in the same act but faded in the fourth as the Magic won their 39th game.

Kevin Knox dropped 21 points and shot 7-13 from the field and Emmanuel Mudiay finished in double-double with 13 buckets and 10 assists. Mitchell Robinson had 12 points, 9 boards, 3 dimes and 2 blocks.

The Magic wer eled by Nikola Vucevic’s 29 points and 13 rebounds, Terrence Ross added 23 off the bench while Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon contributed with 19 points each.