It was a tough loss for the home team at the Amway. Despite Markelle Fultz’s 21 points, Franz Wagner’s 18, and Paolo Banchero’s 16, the Orlando Magic were unable to secure the victory against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, succumbing 102-98 in the Amway Center. The Magic had led for much of the game and adhered to their defensive strategies, but couldn’t close the deal.
The Orlando Magic saw their third largest attendance for a game on Tuesday, which was 19,438, second only to the 19,482 who attended the Lakers game on December 27th of 2022.
To kick off the game, the Magic were lacking a few players and then lost Cole Anthony after he reaggravated a big toe injury in the first quarter.
”We’ve just got to play through these things. That’s why you get paid a lot of money,” Wagner said. ”I do feel bad for the guys that are hurt, though, just to put it in perspective.”
Ignas Brazdeikis scored a 3-pointer to put the Magic up 45-44 with 3:51 left in the first half, however shortly after they went more than a 7-minute stretch without a field goal. Mitchell Robinson then dunked twice to end the first half with the Knicks up 10 points. To add to their lead, the Knicks scored the first seven points of the second half, with Robinson dunking for the last two.
Defensively Coming Alive
“We love that. We love every bit of that. He takes pride in that. If he continues to play at the rate he is, he will be an all-first-team defensive player. Because of his tenacity and because of his football background, he likes to hit people. He’s now learning how to navigate when and where to hit along with using active hands to defend without fouling.” – Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley about Jalen Suggs’
HBCU Night featuring the B-CU Marching Tigers
The Orlando Magic and the NBA are proud to celebrate February as Black History Month in order to commemorate the achievements of African Americans and their unique contributions to our communities. The Orlando Magic are showing their support by hosting a variety of activities for the month, tipping off on Tuesday. The team is committed to honoring this important month and celebrating the history, culture, legacies, and stories of members of the African American community. Additionally, the Orlando Magic have partnered with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to continue their celebration of Black History Month by providing opportunities for engagement and education. Through these HBCU partnerships, the Orlando Magic strive to create meaningful experiences for its fans during this special time.
The Marching Tigers performed an amazing set at the Amway Center Tuesday. We hope that performance carries over to the football program that has been having coaching woes that last month. They have now secured a coach in Alumini Raymond Woodie Jr.
Next Game for Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic have the chance to make a statement against the Denver Nuggets when they return to the Amway Center Thursday. It’s a great opportunity for the Magic to show that their loss previously to the Nuggets was a fluke, and that they can take a tight previous loss to the Nuggets and learn from it. With the home crowd cheering them on, the Magic will be looking for another victory under their belt. I’m sure the team is confident and focused on getting the job done and making a statement against the Nuggets. Go Magic!
