No Jalen Brunson and no protection down the stretch equaled a disheartening Knicks defeat.
After permitting 18 factors within the last 4 minutes — together with a number of broad open treys — the Knicks completed their two-game Florida journey winless with a 111-106 loss Thursday evening to the Magic.
It was a 3rd straight defeat general for the Knicks (42-33), whose protection is turning into more and more problematic because the season winds down. They’ve dropped six of their final 9 video games.
They have been enjoying with out Brunson, who sat with a sprained proper hand sustained throughout Wednesday’s loss in Miami. Brunson has missed six video games within the final 10, with the Knicks now 3-3 in these contests.
Against the rebuilding Magic, Julius Randle struggled and misplaced his cool but once more on the officiating. He shot simply 7-for-20 with 23 factors. RJ Barrett was worse whereas capturing 3-for-12 with simply 10 factors.
But the bench was in all probability the largest downside for New York, which arrange the defeat with a sloppy begin to the fourth quarter. Quentin Grimes was the brilliant spot with 25 factors in 38 minutes.
The Knicks, who’ve three days off earlier than their subsequent sport (at dwelling versus the depressing Rockets) trailed Thursday by as many as 19 in each halves.
Most of the primary half was a slop fest from the Knicks. They shot simply 32% general and 21.7% from past the arc earlier than the break. Still, the Knicks ended the second quarter on an 18-7 run and trailed by solely eight.
Orlando pushed to a 19-point result in begin the second half, and the Knicks have been resurrected within the third quarter with a 23-4 run.
Meanwhile, Randle’s mood is clearly activated. He picked up a technical foul for a 3rd straight sport, giving him a team-high eleventh for the season. This time — like most of his earlier techs — he was indignant at a referee and pressed the problem. Immanuel Quickley tried to calm Randle, who redirected his frustration towards his teammate.
In early December, Randle pledged to be extra affected person and compassionate with the referees. It was an enormous downside final season when his meltdowns turned constant. But Randle appeared extra composed till just lately.
After Wednesday’s loss to the Heat, Randle grumped in regards to the officiating to reporters.
“Anytime I take that much contact and I take one free throw for the game, it pretty much tells the story,” he stated.
The Magic is rebuilding and out of the playoff image, making the Knicks the betting favourite heading into Thursday regardless of enjoying on the second evening of a back-to-back. Also, the gang in Orlando was decidedly professional Knicks, theoretically including a bonus for Tom Thibodeau’s crew.
It didn’t work.
Orlando’s vivid beam towards the long run is Paolo Banchero, the 2022 first-overall decide and frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. He completed with 21 factors Thursday evening with six rebounds on 7-for-17 capturing.
The Knicks have been lamenting their protection within the earlier two losses. That wasn’t mounted in Orlando.
“We have to get our defense in order first off,” Randle stated. “Get our defense in order and find a way to get stops.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com