Jalen Brunson delivered 30 points and nine assists to guide the New York Knicks to a 106-100 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
New York improved to 16-7 and moved to 13-1 at home, earning its first win over Orlando in three meetings this season.
OG Anunoby added 21 points and seven rebounds, while Josh Hart contributed 17 points and 12 boards in a physical matchup that shifted after halftime.
Mikal Bridges finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as the Knicks compensated for the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns, who sat out due to left calf tightness.
Orlando fell to 14-10 and lost leading scorer Franz Wagner early in the first quarter after a lower left leg injury.
Wagner, who entered the night averaging 23.4 points per game, scored seven points in seven minutes before landing awkwardly following a dunk attempt after being fouled by Ariel Hukporti.
He immediately grabbed below his knee and needed assistance to reach the locker room, and the Magic announced he would be re-evaluated upon returning to Orlando before Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against Miami.
Despite the setback, the Magic led 55-54 at halftime behind balanced scoring from Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero.
Bane finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while rookie Anthony Black added 14 points and 11 boards off the bench.
The Knicks took control with a 13-0 run to open the third quarter, sparked by six points from Brunson.
New York outscored Orlando 28-18 in the period and built an 89-73 lead early in the fourth after a 7-0 burst.
Brunson attacked downhill throughout the night, going 10-for-23 from the field and 9-for-12 at the free-throw line, while orchestrating a Knicks offense that posted 24 assists.
Hart’s activity on the glass helped New York finish with a 52-48 rebounding edge, and the Knicks generated eight steals and seven blocks to disrupt Orlando’s rhythm.
The Magic trimmed the deficit in the final minutes but could not overcome their shooting struggles, finishing 36-for-94 from the field and 12-for-42 from beyond the arc.
Tension rose in the fourth quarter when Bane threw the ball at Anunoby’s back while the Knicks forward was out of bounds.
Officials assessed Bane a technical foul, and play resumed without further incident.
The result keeps New York near the top of the Eastern Conference standings heading into its NBA Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday in Toronto.
Orlando returns home for a high-stakes matchup with Miami, awaiting further clarity on Wagner’s condition.
