ORLANDO — The Knicks showed they can pull off ugly wins.
The Knicks used their talent advantage to beat the Magic 108-85 on Friday night, winning their sixth straight game after the short-handed Magic spoiled the game and the referees followed suit with whistle after whistle.
It was a snoozefest with free throws galore, challenge reviews, missed shots, and zero flow.
But after the Magic managed to stay competitive for two and a half quarters, the Knicks finally got some separation behind Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson and got away in the final quarter.
Brunson had 26 points and nine assists, playing well for Orlando for the second time this season.
Hart, his podcast partner, had perhaps his best performance of the season, scoring a season-high 23 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Hart was active on the dirt and Orlando disrupted the dirt while committing 23 personal fouls.
Magic on December 27th. NBAE (via Getty Images)
The Knicks (21-10), who have won 16 of their past 20 games, made 34 free throws, 14 more than their average.
Each person had 10 hearts.
And New York won easily, despite hitting just four 3-pointers on 15 attempts, which is an anomaly in today's NBA.
For the Magic (19-14), the strategy made sense.
They were playing on the second night of back-to-back games with three of the team's best players, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Moe Wagner, out with injuries.
High-spirited Magic guard Jalen Suggs tried to overcome the disadvantage with 27 points.
However, he also participated in a foul fest, quickly scoring five individual goals and playing just 26 minutes.
The Magic didn't have anyone else who could reliably score.
In the third quarter, the momentum shifted to New York, and the visiting fans occupied the Kia Center, chanting “Let's Gonix!” at the top of their lungs.
Most of the second half was at MSG South.
It was the third time the Knicks faced the Magic in December, and the third time they won.
But with the teams tied at 54 going into the break, any thoughts of an easy Knicks victory quickly disappeared as Suggs scored 18 points in the first half.
It was physical, elicited by an avalanche of whistles, including a Fragrant foul on Suggs who elbowed Towns in the mouth.
Unlike the Magic, the Knicks avoided major injuries and started with the same lineup for the 28th time.
It certainly helped New York overcome the dud of Karl-Anthony Towns, who was once again in foul trouble (a recurring theme in recent weeks), posting 16 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes.
Meanwhile, Thibodeau expanded the rotation to nine players.
Landry Shamet has fully recovered from a dislocated shoulder he suffered in the preseason and was acquitted of the injury, playing meaningful minutes for the first time this season.
He dropped 7 points on 3-of-4 shots and a steal.
