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Orlando Magic Grades: New York Knicks 120, Orlando Magic 113

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Emmanuel Mudiay #1 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Orlando Magic and on February 22, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Emmanuel Mudiay #1 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Orlando Magic and on February 22, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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A hungry New York Knicks team outhustled and outworked the Orlando Magic to escape the Amway Center with a victory and a losing streak buster.

The Orlando Magic were scrambling. Their 11-point lead from earlier in the game had crumbled away and the New York Knicks were playing confidently and taking everything right at them.

The onslaught at the rim was not ending. And misses were just another opportunity to score again.

Still, Orlando kept things close. These are two of the worst teams in the league after all. No lead is safe. And give them the appropriate hot streak, and anything can happen.

The team just has to want it.

But there was the ball, hitting the deck after a missed shot and a good defensive stop for the Magic to take. Jonathon Simmons just stared at it and the Knicks, as they had all night, pounced.

Off that offensive rebound, New York scored another layup. It was the story the entire second half as the Knicks waltzed to a 120-113 win at the Amway Center on Thursday.

New York ended up with a 22-4 advantage on second-chance points. Scoring those points on 16 offensive rebounds — a 32.0 percent offensive rebound rate. It came from guards attacking wings who were watching the ball and came from bigs like Kyle O’Quinn and Enes Kanter bull-rushing their way to the basket and collecting their own misses.

In the second half alone, the Knicks recorded nine offensive rebounds and 12 second-chance points. It proved to be the difference in the game.

Orlando’s defense was struggling all night. The offense could only cover it up so long.

The Magic took as much as an 11-point lead in the third quarter. They did so with some killer shooting and ball movement throughout. Orlando shot 61 percent and had 17 assists on 25 makes in the first half for a six-point lead. That included a season-high 41 points in the first quarter.

But that all stopped in the second half. The Knicks turned up their defense, blitzing pick and rolls. The Magic could not figure out how to get around it, too often driving into holes. Their misses led to run out. Their turnovers led to easy points. Orlando was simply getting beat on almost every end.

And there were seemingly few answers as more players tried to force action, moving too slowly or keeping the ball too long to make anything happen.

New York took control and never let up.

B+. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC

D. Unfortunately for the Orlando Magic, the guy who had to play the majority of minutes at center behind Nikola Vucevic struggled mightily. The game bogged down significantly when <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. BISMACK BIYOMBO

C. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON

B+. <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER

A. The New York Knicks entered the game on an eight-game losing streak, something the team surely stewed upon throughout the All-Star Break. This was a team determined to get this win. And they played like it. Maybe not throughout, but eventually they put in the effort of a team desperate to win.<p>That showed up most notably in the second chance points and the unrelenting attack and blitzing defense the Knicks played with. They were going to go at the Magic with reckless abandon and make the Magic work for the win.</p><p><a rel=. 24-36. 11th East. NEW YORK KNICKS

Next: Rumors: Aaron Gordon will have suitors in free agency

The Orlando Magic start a two-game road trip Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers.