Orlando Magic Grades: New York Knicks 113, Orlando Magic 105

The Orlando Magic once again could not hold onto a big lead, as they fell to the New York Knicks, blowing a 14-point lead.

The New York Knicks returned to Orlando and defeated the Orlando Magic a second time this month. Once again the Magic fell late in the fourth quarter.

For the Magic, they led most of the game. But once again they crumbled in the fourth quarter. Orlando came home after blowing a 17-point lead against the Washington Wizards, losing by just a point on the road only to have it happen again.

Orlando led by seven entering the final quarter Monday but gave up a 22-4 run to start the fourth quarter. New York used that charge to win 113-105 at the Amway Center on Monday.

It was a disappointing way to end a game taht seemed to start so promisingly.

The Magic started the game off to a quick start, giving the Knicks an 11-0 hole in the beginning of the first quarter. Bismack Biyombo had a nice highlight where he threw down an enormous two-handed dunk on Kristaps Porzingis. It helped the Magic push their lead up to 14 at 22-8.

Exactly like how they played against the Miami Heat, Orlando played with a quick pace on offense giving them a big lead late into the first quarter and leading them to seven fast-break points. The Magic took the lead up to as many as 14 points, until settling in an eight-point lead after the first quarter.

Starting the second quarter, things started going bad for the Magic. Orlando’s offense and defense both slowed down, giving the Knicks all the momentum during the second quarter.

The Knicks climbed their way back into the game to where the Knicks took a two-point lead in the second quarter. Luckily for the Magic, they were able to step up the pace late in the second and regain the lead, going up five into the half. The starters seemed to pick up the slack from a struggling and thin bench.

Orlando came back after halftime and regained their composure, picking up the pace on offense. Elfrid Payton led the Magic into a faster offensive play, and helped set up passes to his teammates in his first triple-double of the seaso.n

The Magic still scored well during the third quarter, taking a seven-point lead heading final the 4th quarter.

But as always, the Orlando Magic crumbled in the fourth quarter giving the Knicks a 21-4 run in the first seven minutes in the quarter. The Knicks eventually went on to take a 12-point lead against the Magic. Orlando lost its energy and did not execute on both offense and defense.