ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic looks to shoot against the New York Knicks defends during the third quarter at Amway Center on March 23, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agree …
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Paolo Banchero’s 21 points included a 3 with 1:26 remaining and two free throws in the final seconds to help the Orlando Magic turn back the New York Knicks 111-106 on Thursday night.
Cole Anthony added 18 points for Orlando and Wendell Carter Jr. had 16 points and eight rebounds. Franz Wagner scored 16 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with ankle injury.
Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points each for the Knicks, who lost their third straight. Julius Randle finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.
With Jalen Brunson out with an injury and Randle on the bench, the Knicks went almost 5 1/2 minutes without scoring in the second quarter and fell behind 46-27.
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Could Orlando Magic make it to post-season?
The Orlando Magic are hoping to make it to the post-season as they take on the Knicks on Thursday.
The first half ended with Randle drawing a technical foul from referee Leon Wood and jawing with Quickley, who was trying to restrain him as they walked off the court.
New York had a 23-4 run and tied it at 75 on Quickley’s two free throws with 49 seconds left in the third quarter. But the Knicks, who shot 42% for the game, never took the lead in the second half
TIP-INS
Knicks: Brunson, who scored 25 points in a win in Orlando on on Feb. 7, did not play because of a sprained right hand. . . . C Mitchell Robinson, whose availability was not determined until warmups because of a sore knee, played 31 minutes and had 12 rebounds and four blocks. . . It was the fifth straight game in which New York fell behind by double digits.
Magic: Turner Sports NBA analyst Dennis Scott, who played for the Magic from 1990 to 1997, was inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame and got a scoreboard tribute from former teammate Shaquille O’Neal, among others. . . . G Jalen Suggs missed a fourth game because of a concussion.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Host Houston on Monday night.
Magic: Host Brooklyn on Sunday night.