Knicks Struggle Against Magic, Key Players Benched

In a loss to the Magic on Wednesday, where the score finished at 124-107, the Knicks’ core players Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart spent a significant portion of the fourth quarter on the bench.

Hart didn’t see any action in the final period, marking his second consecutive game without fourth-quarter minutes. Bridges managed only one minute during that time but was at a loss for an explanation.

“I don’t know,” Bridges admitted after scoring a season-low six points on 3-of-9 shooting.

Hart, who had shown some improvement after a shaky start this season, looked visibly frustrated following the game. Surprisingly, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, and Jordan Clarkson ended up with more minutes than either Hart or Bridges during the fourth quarter.

When asked about teammate Jalen Brunson’s ankle injury, Hart replied, “I got my own thing.” It’s clear that the dynamics will shift if Brunson can’t play. He twisted his right ankle during garbage time, and this decision to play him while the game was effectively decided drew scrutiny towards coach Mike Brown.

Before the game, Brown noted that he was still trying to iron out the rotation. “I was all over the map with my rotations early in the season,” he remarked. “But now we’ve had some practices and games, and we’re starting to find a rhythm.”

In a match heavily influenced by the Magic’s physical play, the Knicks’ rhythm faltered as they faced their fifth consecutive loss. Brown may need to make additional adjustments, especially if Brunson remains sidelined.

Mitchell Robinson made his return after missing a game due to load management but failed to positively impact a matchup dominated by Orlando’s size. Although he grabbed five offensive rebounds, the Knicks found themselves 11 points down during Robinson’s 17 minutes on the court.

With a strategy focused on managing his play time, Robinson still operates in short bursts; he will not participate in back-to-back games.

Next up, the Knicks are set to face the Heat in a home-and-away series, starting with a game on Friday at Madison Square Garden. Miami had previously bested New York this season.

Reflecting on the previous game, Hart expressed, “I don’t think we responded appropriately to Orlando’s physicality. So I learned my lesson. We have a tough, physical opponent on Friday, and we have to be ready for that.”