Jalen Brunson delivered his most productive scoring night of the season on Saturday, pouring in 40 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 132–120 win over the Orlando Magic in the NBA Cup semifinal at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The victory extended New York’s surge to five straight wins and nine victories in its past 10 games, sending the Knicks to Tuesday night’s NBA Cup final against San Antonio.
Brunson scored at least 30 points for the fourth consecutive game and finished 16-of-27 from the field while adding eight assists, controlling the game whenever Orlando threatened to swing momentum.
The guard’s defining moment came in the third quarter, when he drilled a three-pointer after Anthony Black slipped and fell, sparking a decisive stretch that separated the teams.
Karl-Anthony Towns provided critical support with 29 points on 9-of-11 shooting, repeatedly scoring inside as New York dominated the paint against Orlando’s frontline.
OG Anunoby added 24 points, while Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart combined to stabilize the Knicks during Orlando’s brief scoring runs in the first half.
New York shot 60.7% overall and outscored the Magic 70–62 in the lane, reflecting consistent pressure at the rim and efficient ball movement throughout the night.
The contest carried a playoff-level tempo, featuring 11 lead changes and 10 ties before the Knicks seized control late in the third quarter with a 10-point run that turned a tight game into a double-digit lead.
At halftime, Brunson and Jalen Suggs each had 25 points, putting the game briefly on pace for a rare scoring duel not seen in a regular-season setting since 2000.
Suggs finished with 26 points, but 25 came in the first half, and his effectiveness faded after halftime as he labored with a sore left hip before exiting early in the fourth quarter.
Paolo Banchero scored 25 points for Orlando, attacking the Knicks off the dribble, while Desmond Bane added 18 points and seven assists in a balanced offensive effort.
The Magic were without Franz Wagner, who remains sidelined with a high ankle sprain, limiting Orlando’s spacing and late-game options.
Despite that absence, Orlando stayed competitive by pushing the pace and generating 42 three-point attempts, though the magic converted just 31% from deep.
New York closed the game by maintaining offensive discipline, converting 23-of-31 free throws and limiting turnovers in the final six minutes.
New York (18-7) will now face the Spurs (15-11) in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday night, while the Magic return to regular-season play with a road game in Denver on Thursday.
