NBA: New York Knicks vs. Orlando Magic Preview, Odds, Prediction

The New York Knicks travel to Florida with just one goal to beat the Orlando Magic. They desperately need a win over the Magic because the playoff spot is barely outside their reach. Right now, the Knicks are seventh in the East, while on the other hand, the Magic sits 13th, with some chances for a play-in spot. New York’s form is, as usual, oscillating, while the Magic has looked much better in the recent few weeks than before and plays serious basketball. 

Preview

New York Knicks (29-26, -115) have just two wins over the last five contests. What is negative for Thibodeau’s crew is only two wins during the four-game homestand. They defeated the Sixers and the Heat but lost to the Clippers and the Lakers after overtime. Those losses were huge morale-killers for the fans. 

Knicks beat the Sixers 108-97 in the most recent event NYK played. Randle and the guys rallied from a 21-point deficit, smashing the 76ers in the last quarter, 32-18. 

Randle had 24 points, nine boards, and seven assists. Even though he made just one three in eight shots, the strong forward dominated in the crucial moments. Jalen Brunson had 21 buckets and seven assists, while Evan Fournier came off the bench to score 17 buckets, five threes in eight attempts, stretching the Sixers and giving more space to other teammates. 

Orlando Magic (22-32, +120) won three of the previous four clashes, but the thing is that all those events were on the road. One win in back-to-back contests in Philly, and then two in Minneapolis and Charlotte, was the Magic’s record over the past week.

The win over the Hornets was a bit lucky because the hosts didn’t have enough composure in the key moments, missing plenty of free throws. The Magic controlled the glass well, having 52 boards compared to 39 of the Hornets. 

Banchero had a double-double, 22 points, and 10 boards, with five assists, yet with a poor shooting percentage, 6-for-20, 0-for-4 from behind a three-point line. Wendel Carter Jr. also posted a double-double with 20 buckets and 12 boards, while Makelle Fultz ended with 16.

Head to Head Games

The first game of the year was at Madison Square Garden, where Knicks beat the Magic 115-102. It was early into the season, and things have changed significantly since then. Randle left the court with a double-double; 25 points and 10 boards, Jalen Brunson had 21 and RJ Barrett posted 20 points and six assists.

On the other side, Banchero scored 21 points, Carter Jr 17 with 11 boards, while Bol Bol had a superb performance off the bench with 19 points. 

Prediction

The Magic is in excellent shape, and they are close to winning this clash. When looking at New York’s inconsistency and Orlando’s performances these days, our pick is the hosts’ win. Jamahl Mosley slowly upgraded this unit, and he is a perfect choice for the Magic’s bench. The bottom line here is that Orlando was much more stable throughout January than the Knicks, who simply don’t have what it takes to make a breakthrough to the next level. 

Pick: Orlando Magic win