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Turn it around, team. Today the Knicks (4-9) get right back at it against the Orlando Magic (5-7). Orlando is 28th in the NBA in scoring, last in free throw attempts. However, they take care of the ball, tied with Indiana for 6th in the league with a tidy 14 a game, which is just ahead of league average. They are connecting on 32% of their 32 threes a game. All in all, this seems like the type of game New York should be able to win.
While still early in the year, it seems like the days of Knick-nemeses being scrubs, herbs, bobos and crumbs may be behind them. So I’m ruling out the Evan Fournier firestorm and the Terrence Ross rotisserie. Especially if two of the more effective Magicals can’t play.
Already without F Jonathan Isaac (sprained R ankle), @OrlandoMagic could be without F Aaron Gordon (sprained L ankle) tonight vs. @nyknicks. Gordon suffered the injury in the 3rd Q of Friday’s defeat of WASH. AG gutted his way through that injury, playing 42 min & scoring 20 pts
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) November 11, 2018
Oh man- is it possible the Knicks could turn the tables on the league and load up on one the other team’s focal points? It feels like a corner was turned with the way the Knicks compete front to back every game.
The Orlando Magic have recalled Isaiah Briscoe and Melvin Frazier Jr. from Lakeland of the NBA G League.
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) November 11, 2018
They will re-join Orlando for the game tonight at New York.
Unless this is the Jerian Grant revenge game! Oh my.
Projected Starters
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Last night David Fizdale pulled the plug a little early for Tim Hardaway Jr. and Frank Ntilikina. At first the P&T team was a little tight about it; let ₣ spin! On second thought, pulling them out in tandem is a vote of confidence. You’ve done your duty, get ready for tomorrow. I like it.
Key Matchup
Aaron Gordon would be the guy to keep in check and hopefully he still plays. I like it better when the Knicks are tested and by and large, they have shown up this season. Next in line is probably the plodding blotting from big man Nikola Vucevic. Vuc is like the low usage brand of Enes Kanter that doesn’t have that bitter after taste. Better design on the packaging too.
Mitchell Robinson will probably draw the assignment and his ability to leap out on the jumper could negate a lot of Vucevic’s relevance. If so Harlem’s own, Mo Bamba will be sure to add a dash of long athleticism to test Robinson’s intuitions.
More of this, please
Prediction
The Knicks got this. Frank will disembowel DJ Augustin. Wes Iwundu will get nothing done as per the norm. Noah Vonleh will pummel their frontline. Enes Kanter may even try to block his pal Isaiah Briscoe at the rim when he scoots past Emmanuel Mudiay in the closing moments of the third quarter.
Knicks by +8.
Warm Up Music
Best rap song to ever come out of Orlando. Hit ‘em in the chest with it.
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