Talk about a playoff preview.
The Knicks already passed their first early-season temperature check with a season-opening win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their next major test — one that could carry postseason implications down the road — arrived Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden against the Orlando Magic.
The Magic may not have stormed out of the gates as expected, but they still profile as one of the East’s most dangerous potential playoff opponents — deep, versatile, and built to defend. The Knicks offer a similar profile of depth, versatility and toughness, which could make for an interesting playoff series should these two teams meet in late April or early May.
“I think it’s a great matchup,” said Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley before tipoff. “I think the expectations from the outside are always gonna be there no matter what we say. Our guys know exactly how they can play, how good this team has been playing and how we’re trending.”
Orlando, much like last year’s Knicks, made an all-in move this summer — sending four first-round picks, a swap, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony to Memphis for All-Star guard Desmond Bane.
Bane’s arrival gave the Magic a floor spacer and two-way presence to pair with a core that already includes former Rookie of the Year winner Paolo Banchero, breakout wing Franz Wagner, and tenacious point guard Jalen Suggs. It’s a group that believes it can hang with the East’s elite — especially as injuries to Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) and Jayson Tatum (Celtics) shift the conference hierarchy.
“They’re a big team. They’re athletic. They’re long. They’re well-coached,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said pregame. “Jamahl Mosley’s done a fantastic job down there. They’re gonna be physical. They’re a lot better than what their record says.”
The trajectories of the two franchises, however, are currently divergent. The Knicks are coming off consecutive 50-win seasons and their first conference finals appearance in 25 years. The Magic, meanwhile, are seeking to finally break through after back-to-back first-round exits.
They hope Bane can be the missing piece — though the fit remains a work in progress. The former Grizzlies guard entered Wednesday averaging just 15 points on 28% shooting from three through 11 games.
“I think you’ve just gotta go through the experience,” Mosley said. “That’s a big portion of it. You’ve gotta go through the experience of gaining something every year. The first round has been these past two years, but then you’ve gotta figure out what it takes to get to the next piece. Sometimes it is adding a piece.
“But the guys going through the experience throughout the year is gonna be very important. These games can get you battle-tested for those scenarios, and the more we can embrace, acknowledge and understand that, that’s how these guys gain the experience to know how they can take that next step forward.”
The Knicks and Magic have quietly built a gentleman’s rivalry over the past two seasons, trading regular-season series sweeps like respectful jabs across I-95. Orlando took the matchup 3–1 two years ago; the Knicks returned the favor last season with a 3–1 mark against a Magic roster limping through injuries.
The Magic looked like world-beaters in October, ripping off four straight preseason wins, but stumbled to a 1–5 start once the real games began. They’ve since steadied themselves, winning four of six entering Wednesday’s meeting at The Garden.
Brown said the Magic have a significant edge in their ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line, a particularly worrisome advantage given the Knicks’ propensity for undisciplined fouls.
“I think their starting five might be in the top five in net rating in the NBA, so they can hurt you in a lot of different ways,” Brown said. “We just have to match their physicality without sending them to the free throw line.”
“For us, all the time but especially when you play good teams, you want to try to win the possession game,” Brown continued. “Free-throw attempts plus offensive rebounds minus turnovers. If a team is getting there 34, 35 times a game and we’re getting there 22, that’s a huge head start they got. So we have to be physical without fouling.”
