Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 114, New York Knicks 100

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 3: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the New York Knicks on April 3, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 3: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the New York Knicks on April 3, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Terrence Ross went on a personal tear to end the third quarter and give the Orlando Magic the cushion they needed to defeat the New York Knicks at home.

38. Final. 100. 27. 114

The Orlando Magic could feel that frustration creeping in again.

The New York Knicks had cut into a 17-point lead and gotten it to two as the Orlando Magic again struggled to keep offensive players from driving the lane and defend without fouling. It was shaping up to be another frustratingly close game with one of the worst teams in the league.

Then the spark of energy happened. Just enough to get the team through it all.

Terrence Ross hit a 3-pointer. Then another. Then another. All this within 1:05 of the end of the quarter.

He scored 11 straight points in a two-minute stretch, including that nine-point burst and restored a double-digit lead entering the fourth quarter. There was that sigh of relief that comes from Terrence Ross’ turn as a flamethrower.

The Magic withstood a career night from Mario Hezonja and the plucky Knicks team that never seemed to go completely away. Orlando’s defensive lapse in the third quarter dissipated when Ross caught fire.

The Magic got the ball inside to Nikola Vucevic plenty in the fourth quarter and held on for a 114-100 win at the Amway Center on Wednesday. The win helped the Orlando Magic climb into a tie for seventh with the Brooklyn Nets and just a half game behind the Detroit Pistons for sixth as all three of Orlando’s competitors lost on Wednesday.

In that sense, this game was a big moment for the team. the Magic now control their own destiny once again.

It was still a struggle to get there.

Orlando was slow out of the gate again as the team seemed to lack a ton of defensive energy. The Knicks took the early lead and early control as the Magic searched for a little bit of juice.

They found it with Michael Carter-Williams flying to the ball and defending at a high level. The Magic worked it to Evan Fournier a lot and he tore up the Knicks defense. That helped stake Orlando as much as a 16-point lead early in the third quarter.

New York mucked the game up. But a steady diet of Vucevic post ups held them off. Especially after Ross got done with his work.

A. Orlando Magic coach <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic. TERRENCE ROSS

B+. The New York Knicks liked to switch a lot on every screen and the Orlando Magic found a way to exploit it for most of the night. They would run a pick and roll and then have <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC

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

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

A-. The New York Knicks deserve plenty of credit for their willingness to fight and scrap through the rest of this season. They have little to play for — and their fans are openly cheering for their defeat. But this team has plenty of spunk and a real defensive game changer in Mitchell Robinson — at least when he is not biting on pump fakes all the time.<p>New York took control early and never really climbed out of it. Even down by 16 in the third quarter, they kept fighting and kept trying to muck the game up. Their switching took the Orlando Magic somewhat out of rhythm and the New York Knicks took advantage.</p><p>Mario Hezonja’s career game — 29 points on 11-for-22 shooting — came because of his aggression and willingness to attack the basket. After a cold-shooting first half, New York started to hit shots getting 21 points from Tampa-native <a rel=. 15-63. 15th East. NEW YORK KNICKS

The Orlando Magic will close out their home schedule Friday against the Atlanta Hawks. They have three games remaining.

With the win and the Miami Heat’s loss to the Boston Celtics, the Orlando Magic climbed into eighth in the Eastern Conference. With the Brooklyn Nets’ loss to the Toronto Raptors, the Orlando Magic are now tied with the Nets for seventh in the East.

With three Magic wins or three Heat losses, the Magic will clinch a playoff spot.

Next. Orlando Magic have to get back to defense. dark

With one more Orlando Magic win or one more Minnesota Timberwolves loss, the Magic will be eliminated from receiving the 10th-best odds to win the NBA Draft Lottery.