Knicks Dominate Magic in Statement Win

New York desperately needs a healthy Hartenstein in April.

Final Score: Knicks 98 - Magic 74
Record: 37-26

Much has been said, and much ink has been spilled, about the NBA's offensive explosion this season.  

Teams are scoring an average of 115 points per game in 2023-24. To put that in context, the league average was 93 PPG 20 years ago, and the 73-win Warriors team from 2016 would rank 17th in Offensive Rating this season. Last month, Joe Dumas, the NBA VP and head of basketball operations, stated that the "league's competition committee has officially begun reviewing whether the game has tilted too far toward offense and whether changes need to be implemented to achieve better balance."

Well, Friday at the Garden was a throwback to a much different day and age, one which many Knicks fans remember fondly. In the 1990s, the Knicks were one of the league's best teams, and New York's defense reigned supreme.

New York held Orlando to just 74 points last night, the fewest by any NBA team in a game this season. In fact, it's the first time in more than four years that a team has scored fewer than 75 points (the Clippers had 73 vs. Dallas in December 2020). 

It was the first time New York held an opponent under 75 points in over a decade (the last time coming back in April of 2012 in a win over the Wizards). 

The Bockers did all this despite playing without their best defender (OG) and a big man who generated DPOY buzz earlier this season (Mitch Rob). The entire team was on a string and locked in right from the opening tip. 

"Being short-handed right now, we have to do it with our defense and our rebounding and keep the turnovers down," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "And so when we fly around and work together like that, and we have the type of activity that we did, that gives us a chance to win."

The Knicks' defensive domination came at a good time. They entered Friday's showdown with Orlando a half-game behind the Magic in the standings. 

Offensively, New York got an early spark from returning hero Jalen Brunson. 

Last Sunday night in Cleveland, Brunson crumbled to the court in pain, clutching his left knee, and it looked as though the Knicks dream season was over in an instant. Incredibly, he ended up missing just one contest. 

In the first eight minutes of Friday's first quarter, Brunson scored ten points on 4-of-5 shooting. New York sprinted out to a double-digit lead and never looked back. Brunson would finish the evening with 26 points (11-of-19 FGs), three rebounds, two assists, and four 3-pointers in 29 minutes.

"You have nothing but respect for him because he does everything he can to get back," Thibodeau said of his point guard after the win. "Two workouts a day. He's on the floor. He's pushing himself in practice. He gets there early, stays late. Goes through practice. Comes back at night, gets treatment. Works out again. Then gets himself ready. Doesn't take any days off, and that's why he can do the things he does." 

Although Brunson led the club in scoring and Josh Hart had a fantastic all-around game (19 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three 3-pointers), the game ball from Friday's victory goes to Precious Achiuwa.

Orlando's All-Star and leading scorer, Paolo Banchero, got hot early, scoring 12 points in the first ten minutes, but Achiuwa put him in shackles the rest of the way. Achiuwa also helped shut down the Magic's other 20 PPG scorer, Franz Wagner. 

Over the entire contest, Achiuwa was the primary defender on Banchero and/or Wagner for a total of 50 possessions, and while Achiuwa guarded both players, they were a combined 6-of-19 (31%) from the floor and had more turnovers (3) than assists (1). 

Achiuwa finished the game with a career-high five blocks. Oh, and he also scored 15 points, ripped down 14 rebounds, dished out four assists, knocked down a pair of three-pointers and tacked on two steals. 

He became the first Knick with at least 14 boards, four dimes, five swats and two steals in the same game since Patrick Ewing in 1996. Precious is the first New York player ever to post those stats and also knock down two treys. 

Friday's game was crucial in many respects. Not only had the Knicks lost each of the first three games vs. Orlando this season, but New York had also lost eight of 12 and needed to get back on track to avoid sinking in the standings. By winning, the Knicks sent a strong message to a young Magic squad and the rest of the East.

Brunson's back. OG is close to coming back. NY's defense is back. And so are the Knicks.

 

Other Takeaways and Knicks Notes:

🏀 Isaiah Hartenstein logged just 20 minutes, and his numbers don't jump off the page at you (five points, six rebounds, three blocks), but he looked spry and active Friday night. It was the best iHart has looked in quite some time, which is very encouraging. 

"Isaiah's defense to start the game was top-of-the-line," Thibodeau said. "That's as active as he's been in quite a while, so it was great to see."

For the Knicks to fire on all cylinders, especially on the defensive end, they need a dominant center to anchor the defense and protect the paint. With Mitchell Robinson still far from being medically cleared, New York desperately needs a healthy Hartenstein in April.