No Jalen Brunson and no protection down the stretch equaled a disheartening Knicks defeat.
After permitting 18 factors within the ultimate 4 minutes — together with a number of extensive open treys — the Knicks completed their two-game Florida journey winless with a 111-106 loss Thursday night time 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. Nonetheless sitting fifth within the East, they’ve dropped six of their final 9 video games and are actually 5 video games behind the Cavs for fourth seed and simply 1 ½ video games forward of No. 6 Miami.
”Proper now, our group is out of types,” Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “It's a must to pull collectively in tough instances. You get into issues collectively, you get out of issues collectively. There are going to be ups and downs now we have to navigate. Everybody does.”
New York was 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.
In opposition to 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 taking pictures 3-for-12 with simply 10 factors. The bench was drubbed at first of the second and fourth quarters.
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.
A lot of the first half was a slop fest from the Knicks. They shot simply 32% general and 21.7% from past the arc earlier than the break. Nonetheless, 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.
In the meantime, 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 difficulty. Immanuel Quickley tried to calm Randle, who redirected his frustration towards his teammate.
“It’s a protracted season,” Thibodeau mentioned. “We've got to do higher. We all know that.”
In early December, Randle pledged to be extra affected person and compassionate with the referees. It was an enormous drawback final season when his meltdowns turned constant. However Randle appeared extra composed till not too long ago.
After Wednesday’s loss to the Warmth, Randle grumped in regards to the officiating to reporters.
“Anytime I take that a lot contact and I take one free throw for the sport, it just about tells the story,” he mentioned.
The Magic are younger and out of the playoff image, making the Knicks the betting favourite heading into Thursday regardless of enjoying on the second night time of a back-to-back. Additionally, the gang in Orlando was decidedly professional Knicks, theoretically including a bonus for Thibodeau’s crew.
It didn’t assist.
Orlando’s shiny beam towards the longer term is Paolo Banchero, the 2022 first-overall choose and frontrunner for Rookie of the 12 months. He completed with 21 factors Thursday night time with six rebounds on 7-for-17 taking pictures.
The Knicks have been lamenting their protection within the earlier two losses. That wasn’t fastened in Orlando.
“We've got to get our protection so as first off,” Randle mentioned. “Get our protection so as and discover a strategy to get stops.”
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