Knicks Look to be Enchanted in NBA Cup Semifinals Against the Magic
On Tuesday night, the New York Knicks handled their business against the Toronto Raptors, defeating them 117-101 to move on to the NBA Cup Semifinals, where they’ll take on the Orlando Magic on Saturday evening. This will be the fourth encounter between these two teams this season. Orlando holds the advantage, having won the first two games against New York. However, the Knicks have demonstrated their ability to defeat this Magic team, winning 106-100 on December 7th. Both teams are seeking their first NBA Cup Finals appearance and will play at the highest level imaginable to make this a reality.
Orlando picked up a 117-108 win over the Miami Heat in the Quarterfinals. The victory was largely due to the outstanding performance by Desmond Bane, who scored 37 points and made six three-pointers. This win for the Magic comes without Franz Wagner, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Orlando’s loss to the Knicks on December 7th. The injury appeared much worse than it was, and although an MRI showed no structural damage, it’s unlikely he’ll play in Saturday’s Semifinals matchup.
The Knicks have won their last four games and are seeking to continue that momentum into Saturday’s game. New York’s star Jalen Brunson was one to be reckoned with, scoring 35 points and also nailing six three-pointers. This Knicks team knows they must continue their offensive barrage and will have to play well at both ends of the floor to stop Bane, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black. Karl-Anthony Towns must continue being a double-double machine. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby need to contribute more offensively, just in case this team gets into a slump. Finally, it’s imperative for Mitchell Robinson to knock down free throws when he’s at the line. New York cannot afford these missed opportunities at the charity stripe. The Knicks must band together and show they’re more than capable of making it to the NBA Cup Finals.
Rebounding will play an important part in this NBA Cup Semifinals contest. The Magic outrebounded the Knicks 49-37 during their November 12th game, and in their last matchup, New York outrebounded Orlando 52-48. Three-point shooting will also play a factor. In their first encounter, the Magic shot 36 percent from three, compared to the Knicks’ 30 percent. During their November 22nd battle, Orlando made 39% of their shots from beyond the arc while New York made 35%. Finally, the Knicks hit 31 percent of their three-pointers on December 7th, and the Magic shot 29 percent. These two teams are trying to prove to the rest of the Eastern Conference why they're the biggest threat. New York is two games behind the first-place Detroit Pistons, while Orlando is four and a half games back. Not only is Saturday’s matchup important for an NBA Cup Finals appearance, but to take charge within the East as a top contender.
