Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart help Knicks pull away from Magic for ugly win

On By Littum

ORLANDO — The Knicks showed they can win ugly.

After the shorthanded Magic spoiled the game and the referees were forced to with a stream of whistles, the Knicks reversed their talent advantage by beating the Magic on Friday night, 108-85, for their sixth straight victory.

It was a snoozefest with lots of free throws, challenge reviews, missed shots and zero flow.

But after the Magic managed to stay competitive for 2½ quarters, the Knicks finally created separation behind Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson and ran away in the final quarter.

Jalen Brunson attempts a shot during the Knicks’ win against the Magic on Dec. 27. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Brunson dropped 26 points with nine assists, the second time this season he played well in Orlando.

His podcast partner, Hart, added a season-high 23 points with 13 rebounds in arguably his best performance of the campaign.

Hart thrives in the dirt, and Orlando messed it up while committing 23 personal fouls.

Josh Hart attempts a shot during the Knicks’ win against
Magic on 27 Dec. NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks (21-10), who have won 16 of their last 20, made 34 free throws, 14 above their average.

Hart had 10 of his own.

And New York won handily despite hitting just four 3-pointers on 15 attempts, an anomaly in today’s NBA.

For the Magic (19-14), the strategy was understandable.

They played the second night of a back-to-back without three of their best players – Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Mo Wagner – who are all out with injuries.

Jalen Suggs, the dashing Magic guard, tried to overcome that disadvantage with 27 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns dunks during the Knicks’ win against the Magic on Dec. 27. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

But he was also part of the foul fest, quickly picking up five personals and reaching just 26 minutes.

The Magic didn’t have anyone else to score reliably.

With the momentum swinging toward New York in the third quarter, the visiting fans took over the Kia Center, chanting loud and bountiful, “Let’s Go Knicks.”

It was MSG South for most of the second half.

It was the third time in December that the Knicks faced the Magic, and the third time they beat them.

But the idea of ​​a Knicks cakewalk was quickly extinguished when Suggs dropped 18 points in the opening half as the teams went into halftime tied at 54.

Jalen Suggs attempts a 3-pointer during the Magic’s loss to the Knicks on Dec. 27. Imagine pictures

It was physical and drawn out by an avalanche of whistles, including a flagrant foul on Suggs for elbowing Towns in the mouth.

The Knicks, unlike the Magic, have avoided major injuries and started the same lineup for the 28th time.

It certainly helped as New York overcame a dud from Karl-Anthony Towns, who was in foul trouble again — a recurring theme the past few weeks — and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes.

Thibodeau, meanwhile, expanded his rotation to nine.

Landry Shamet, fully recovered from a dislocated shoulder suffered in the preseason, logged meaningful minutes for the first time this season and acquitted himself well.

He dropped seven points with a steal on 3-for-4 shooting.