Magic's perfect NBA Cup record, finals trip on line vs. Knicks
The resilient Orlando Magic take a perfect NBA Cup record into the tournament's semifinals Saturday, while the New York Knicks roll into Las Vegas having feasted ever since Thanksgiving week.
In their duel to decide who will represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Cup finals Tuesday, the Magic once again will be without a top player, with Franz Wagner not expected to play, while the Knicks have nearly been unbeatable since Nov. 24 with an 8-1 record.
Wagner came away with a high left ankle sprain during the Magic's 106-100 road loss to the Knicks on Sunday. He was not on the court when Orlando earned its spot in the NBA Cup East final with a 117-108 home victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
But Paolo Banchero is back for Orlando. He scored 18 points with seven rebounds against the Heat in his third game since sitting out 10 contests with a strained left groin.
Wagner and Banchero have played just one full game together since Nov. 14, but the team has managed to go 9-4 in that stretch. The Magic went a perfect 4-0 in NBA Cup group play before getting past the Heat in an elimination game.
While Banchero and Wagner have fluctuated in and out of the lineup, Desmond Bane has not missed a game, averaging 19.0 points with 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his first season with the team following an offseason trade from the Memphis Grizzlies. He torched Miami for 37 points Tuesday.
"I think it's a collective," Bane said. "Paolo is on the floor, just working his way back. Every time he puts the ball on the floor, it seems like there are three guys coming after him. And the beautiful thing about him, he's a very willing passer. ... I am getting more comfortable, but I think everybody is."
The Magic not only faced the Knicks less than a week ago, but the teams have already played each other three times this season, with Orlando winning two of them. The Magic handed the Knicks their only home loss this season, 124-107, on Nov. 12.
Even with both teams in the top four of the Eastern Conference and now set to take each other on to represent the East in the NBA Cup final, Knicks head coach Mike Brown was hesitant to call the matchup an intense rivalry.
"It's a little tough just because I don't think (either) team has been completely healthy when we played each other," Brown told reporters this week. "I don't necessarily feel like it's on the rivalry level yet. But it can be in due time, but I don't think it's there yet."
New York's Jalen Brunson scored 30 points with nine assists as the Knicks got past the Magic last weekend, then he scored 35 points in a 117-101 victory at Toronto on Tuesday that earned New York the trip to Las Vegas. Karl Anthony-Towns added 14 points and 16 rebounds.
The Knicks shot 52.5% from the floor in the victory while going 45.7% from 3-point range. Brunson went 6 of 9 from distance.
--Field Level Media
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:12 |  | Jonathan Isaac shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 6:15 |  | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 6:17 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:31 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 6:35 | | Jalen Suggs misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:46 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 50-43 |
| 6:46 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 49-43 |
| 6:46 | | Jalen Suggs shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 6:53 | | Jett Howard personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 7:12 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:13 | | +3 | Jalen Suggs makes three point jump shot (Desmond Bane assists) | 48-43 |
| 7:19 | | Jalen Suggs defensive rebound | ||
| 7:24 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:29 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 7:31 | | Desmond Bane misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:46 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 48-40 |
| 7:59 | | +2 | Paolo Banchero makes two point driving finger roll layup | 45-40 |
| 8:11 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point driving floating jump shot | 45-38 |
| 8:20 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:22 | | Jalen Suggs misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:35 | | +2 | Tyler Kolek makes two point driving floating jump shot | 43-38 |
| 8:44 | | +1 | Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-38 |
| 8:44 | | +1 | Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-37 |
| 8:44 | | Josh Hart shooting foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul) | ||
| 8:53 | | Josh Hart personal foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul) | ||
| 9:10 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point running layup | 41-36 |
| 9:14 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 9:18 | | Paolo Banchero misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:24 | | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | ||
| 9:27 | | Josh Hart misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:36 | | Desmond Bane turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:58 | | Magic 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:58 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists) | 39-36 |
| 9:58 | | Desmond Bane turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Kolek steals) | ||
| 10:02 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point running finger roll layup (Tyler Kolek assists) | 37-36 |
| 10:07 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 10:08 | | Desmond Bane misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:21 | | +2 | OG Anunoby makes two point stepback jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists) | 35-36 |
| 10:36 | | Desmond Bane personal foul (Josh Hart draws the foul) | ||
| 10:36 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 10:38 | | Tristan da Silva misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:50 | | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | ||
| 10:52 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:12 | | Knicks defensive rebound | ||
| 11:14 | | Paolo Banchero misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:29 | | Josh Hart turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 11:36 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 11:39 | | Tristan da Silva misses two point driving floating bank jump shot |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | | End of period | ||
| 0:00 | | Magic offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Paolo Banchero misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:04 | | +3 | OG Anunoby makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 33-36 |
| 0:08 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 0:13 | | Jordan Clarkson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:35 | | +2 | Paolo Banchero makes two point running layup (Tyus Jones assists) | 30-36 |
| 0:39 | | Jordan Clarkson turnover (lost ball) (Goga Bitadze steals) | ||
| 0:52 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 0:52 | | Desmond Bane misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:59 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point stepback jump shot | 30-34 |
| 1:15 | | +2 | Paolo Banchero makes two point turnaround jump shot | 28-34 |
| 1:27 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point turnaround jump shot | 28-32 |
| 1:43 | | +2 | Desmond Bane makes two point reverse layup (Goga Bitadze assists) | 26-32 |
| 1:48 | | Goga Bitadze offensive rebound | ||
| 1:51 | | Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:57 | | Mikal Bridges personal foul (Desmond Bane draws the foul) | ||
| 2:03 | | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Jordan Clarkson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 2:05 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Jordan Clarkson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:05 | | Magic 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:05 | | Jett Howard shooting foul (Jordan Clarkson draws the foul) | ||
| 2:16 | | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:19 | | Tristan da Silva misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:42 | | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point dunk (Jordan Clarkson assists) | 26-30 |
| 2:46 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:49 | | Mikal Bridges misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 3:03 | | +3 | Jett Howard makes three point jump shot (Jalen Suggs assists) | 24-30 |
| 3:07 | | Guerschon Yabusele personal foul (Loose ball) (Jonathan Isaac draws the foul) | ||
| 3:07 | | Magic offensive rebound | ||
| 3:09 | | Anthony Black misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:19 | | Anthony Black defensive rebound | ||
| 3:22 | | Josh Hart misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:48 | | +3 | Jonathan Isaac makes three point jump shot (Jalen Suggs assists) | 24-27 |
| 3:57 | | +2 | Jordan Clarkson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 24-24 |
| 4:05 | | +2 | Anthony Black makes two point running finger roll layup | 22-24 |
| 4:11 | | Anthony Black defensive rebound | ||
| 4:13 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:28 | | +2 | Jonathan Isaac makes two point cutting dunk (Jalen Suggs assists) | 22-22 |
| 4:44 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 22-20 |
| 4:44 | | Anthony Black shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 4:44 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 21-20 |
| 4:51 | | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 19-20 |
| 4:58 | | Jett Howard defensive rebound | ||
| 5:00 | | Anthony Black blocks Jalen Brunson's two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:10 | | Guerschon Yabusele defensive rebound | ||
| 5:11 | | Jonathan Isaac misses two point tip layup | ||
| 5:11 | | Jonathan Isaac offensive rebound | ||
| 5:15 | | Anthony Black misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:23 | | Karl-Anthony Towns personal foul (Anthony Black draws the foul) | ||
| 5:39 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point alley-oop layup (Mikal Bridges assists) | 19-18 |
| 5:54 | | +2 | Desmond Bane makes two point driving layup | 17-18 |
| 6:04 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 17-16 |
| 6:25 | | +3 | Desmond Bane makes three point stepback jump shot | 15-16 |
| 6:36 | | OG Anunoby personal foul (Wendell Carter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 6:42 | | Mikal Bridges turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 6:43 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 6:47 | | Jalen Suggs misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:56 | | Wendell Carter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:59 | | OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:08 | | Paolo Banchero personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 7:28 | | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point reverse layup (Paolo Banchero assists) | 15-13 |
| 7:35 | | Magic offensive rebound | ||
| 7:38 | | Jalen Suggs misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:48 | | +3 | OG Anunoby makes three point jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 15-11 |
| 7:58 | | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 12-11 |
| 8:22 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 12-9 |
| 8:36 | | Paolo Banchero turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 8:48 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-9 |
| 8:48 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-9 |
| 8:48 | | Anthony Black shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 8:48 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive rebound | ||
| 8:50 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:15 | | Desmond Bane turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:15 | | Desmond Bane offensive foul (Charge) (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 9:15 | | Desmond Bane offensive rebound | ||
| 9:16 | | Josh Hart blocks Anthony Black's two point driving hook shot | ||
| 9:33 | | +2 | OG Anunoby makes two point dunk | 8-9 |
| 9:53 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:57 | | +3 | Wendell Carter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Desmond Bane assists) | 6-9 |
| 10:07 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving finger roll layup | 6-6 |
| 10:20 | | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point pullup jump shot (Desmond Bane assists) | 4-6 |
| 10:32 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point jump shot (OG Anunoby assists) | 4-4 |
| 10:37 | | Josh Hart offensive rebound | ||
| 10:39 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:56 | | +2 | Wendell Carter Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (Desmond Bane assists) | 2-4 |
| 11:13 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 2-2 |
| 11:34 | | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point driving floating jump shot | 0-2 |
| 11:42 | | Desmond Bane defensive rebound | ||
| 11:44 | | OG Anunoby misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 12:00 | | Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Wendell Carter Jr. (Josh Hart gains possession) |
| Min. Per Game | ||
| Pts. Per Game | ||
| Ast. Per Game | ||
| Reb. Per Game | ||
| Field Goal % | ||
| Three Point % | ||
| Free Throw % |
|
Jonathan Isaac shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | 6:12 |
|
Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | 6:15 |
|
Jalen Brunson misses two point driving layup | 6:17 |
|
Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | 6:31 |
|
Jalen Suggs misses three point jump shot | 6:35 |
| |
+ 1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6:46 |
| |
+ 1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6:46 |
|
Jalen Suggs shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | 6:46 |
|
Jett Howard personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | 6:53 |
|
Knicks 60 second timeout | 7:12 |
| |
+ 3 | Jalen Suggs makes three point jump shot (Desmond Bane assists) | 7:13 |
| Team Stats | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Points | 50 | 43 |
| Field Goals | 21-34 (61.8%) | 18-36 (50.0%) |
| 3-Pointers | 3-12 (25.0%) | 5-17 (29.4%) |
| Free Throws | 5-7 (71.4%) | 2-2 (100.0%) |
| Total Rebounds | 18 | 15 |
| Offensive | 5 | 3 |
| Defensive | 11 | 9 |
| Team | 2 | 3 |
| Assists | 10 | 10 |
| Steals | 1 | 1 |
| Blocks | 1 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
| Fouls | 6 | 9 |
| Technicals | 0 | 0 |
| Key Players | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
J. Brunson PG | 28.3 PPG | 3.1 RPG | 6.3 APG | 48.0 FG% |
|
J. Suggs SG | 14.9 PPG | 3.8 RPG | 4.7 APG | 46.0 FG% |
| Top Scorers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
J. Brunson PG | 13 PTS | 0 REB | 1 AST | |
|
|
J. Suggs SG | 13 PTS | 1 REB | 3 AST | |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Brunson | 13 | 0 | 1 | 5/10 | 0/3 | 3/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 15 |
| K. Towns | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3/4 | 1/2 | 2/2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +12 | 14 |
| M. Bridges | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3/5 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +9 | 9 |
| T. Kolek | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +10 | 9 |
| M. Robinson | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -3 | 7 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Brunson | 13 | 0 | 1 | 5/10 | 0/3 | 3/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 15 |
| K. Towns | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3/4 | 1/2 | 2/2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | +12 | 14 |
| M. Bridges | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3/5 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +9 | 9 |
| T. Kolek | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +10 | 9 |
| M. Robinson | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -3 | 7 |
| On Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Clarkson | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 0/1 | 0/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 3 |
| G. Yabusele | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 1 |
| A. Hukporti | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| M. Diawara | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| T. Jemison | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| K. McCullar Jr. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| T. Evbuomwan | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 50 | 16 | 10 | 21/34 | 3/12 | 5/7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | +18 | - |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Suggs | 13 | 1 | 3 | 6/10 | 1/5 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 20 |
| J. Isaac | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2/3 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| W. Carter Jr. | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2/2 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 6 |
| J. Howard | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 4 |
| A. Black | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1/4 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| J. Suggs | 13 | 1 | 3 | 6/10 | 1/5 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 20 |
| J. Isaac | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2/3 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| W. Carter Jr. | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2/2 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 6 |
| J. Howard | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 4 |
| A. Black | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1/4 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
| On Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB | +/- | FPTS |
| T. Jones | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -9 | 2 |
| G. Bitadze | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -9 | 4 |
| T. da Silva | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/3 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -8 | 0 |
| J. Cain | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| J. Richardson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| N. Penda | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| O. Robinson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 43 | 12 | 10 | 18/36 | 5/17 | 2/2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -14 | - |
