Knicks fall apart in fourth quarter, drop to 0-3 with loss to Magic
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges is defended by Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson in the first half of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Franz Wagner scored 21 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Orlando Magic dropped the reigning champion Knicks to 0-3 with a 111-102 win Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
Wagner, who started 1-for-10 from the field, added 13 rebounds and nine assists. Anthony Black had 18 points and five assists after missing Orlando’s first two games with an ankle injury.
The Magic (1-2), already playing without leading scorer Paolo Banchero, lost Jalen Suggs to a knee injury in the fourth quarter but outscored the Knicks 40-27 in the period to earn their first win under Sean Sweeney.
Jalen Brunson scored 28 points for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 14 rebounds and OG Anunoby added 22 points, but the Knicks became the first defending champion to start 0-3 since the 2011-12 Mavericks.
Black and Tristan Da Silva each made five three-pointers off the bench and Desmond Bane (22 points) hit four for the Magic, who trailed 12-0.
The Knicks led 86-76 with 9:20 to play after Anunoby’s soft floater, b
ut Orlando roared back, keyed by Wagner, who scored nine points in an 11-0 run that gave Orlando its first lead of the game at 87-86 with 7:25 to play. The Magic outscored the Knicks 35-16 in the final nine-plus minutes.
