The Knicks sorely missed Karl-Anthony Towns in their matchup against the Orlando Magic, as the star big man sat out due to a leg injury. His absence was felt acutely on a night when the team endured its worst shooting performance.
The Knicks started the game with promise, hitting 3 of their first 6 attempts from beyond the arc. However, things unraveled quickly as they went ice cold, missing their next 15 three-point attempts. By the final buzzer, the team had limped to a dismal 4-for-22 performance from three-point range, a season-low that left them unable to keep pace offensively.
Conversely, the Magic didn’t light it up from deep for most of the game but found their rhythm when it mattered most. Orlando knocked down 4-of-5 threes in the fourth quarter, a timely surge that proved decisive.
Without Towns and McBride, the Knicks struggled to generate clean looks against the Magic’s stifling defense. Orlando’s defensive effort, a hallmark of their resilience this season despite their injury woes, kept the Knicks in check and ultimately secured the victory.
For New York, this game highlighted the critical role of Towns in their offensive scheme and the need for others to step up in his absence.