Magic 105, Knicks 100: Scenes from a loss I somehow want to blame on Arron Afflalo

It wasn’t when we learned that Kristaps Porzingis would have to sit out. It wasn’t even when we learned Tim Hardaway Jr. would have to sit out (leg injury). No, it was when Arron Afflalo hit the most ridiculous bush-league three in the history of threes to put the Magic up 85-81—that was when it became clear the basketball gods were just out to punish the Knicks and their fans on Sunday afternoon.

Sure, the Knicks would come back to tie, but a few wasted offensive possessions, a few dumbfounding lineup decisions (Ramon Sessions?), and a sprinkling of Michael Beasley overall basketball incompetence later, the game was in the bag despite some suuuuuper late fake-comeback nonsense.

Still, the Knicks gave it a good run, I guess. Frank Ntilikina was frisky, hitting 3 of his first 4 shots on the way to 9 points. Not sure why they took him out for Sessions, buuuuuuut whatever. I loved this post-up so much I practically cried.

That’s the future, right there. Not many point guards in the league can stop that.

Also Damyean Dotson got the start. He didn’t do much, but that’s pretty exciting for the youngster.

Lance Thomas dropped a dime to Kyle O’Quinn, who played well for the first time in a while.

Alas, the Knicks still lost, and I still blame Arron Afflalo.