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Orlando Magic at New York Knicks (Oct. 25, 2026): 3 Things to Watch, Odds and Prediction

The Orlando Magic hit the road for the first time this season to face the defending champions, equally desperate to get their first win early this season.
ByPhilip Rossman-Reich
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The Orlando Magic are still searching for their first win. They take on a New York Knicks team equally desperate to score a victory.
The Orlando Magic are still searching for their first win. They take on a New York Knicks team equally desperate to score a victory. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Orlando Magic at New York Knicks: Stats and 3 Keys to Watch

Orlando

New York

105.5

Pace

97.3

103.8

Off. Rtg.

104.1

116.5

Def. Rtg.

109.8

52.4

eFG%

48.6

25.5

O.Reb.%

34.2

17.1

TO%

16.9

34.3

FTR

27.6

1. Control the pace

One thing that the Orlando Magic have established really well in the early games this season is their desire to run and play quickly.

The Magic are in the top five in pace at 105.5 possessions per 48 minutes. One of the Magic's key messages is to get across midcourt quickly. It is easy to notice. The Magic are trying to increase their possessions and get up the court quickly.

Orlando is still just 14th in transition possessions per game (21.5), and the team is scoring 0.84 points per possession in transition.

That all suggests the Magic are still learning how to play this quickly. They are letting the pace control them. And that is the biggest challenge for the Magic. To play with composure.

There are still a lot of turnovers to clean up to help take advantage of this newfound speed. The ideas are there. The execution has not been.

2. Preseason problems

Preseason is always only a hint of the things the team will do. It is never the full picture and it is always incomplete.

But those hints are still hints. They still speak to some bigger issues the team might face. And they should not be completely dismissed.

Hindsight is 20/20.

In the preseason, the Magic allowed a 25.0 percent offensive rebound rate in the first half of games. They gave up 11 second-chance points per game in the first half. That was one of the best defensive rebound rates in the preseason, but one of the worst at second-chance points.

It is clear the Magic needed to rebound well. And they simply have not.

The Minnesota Timberwolves racked up 22 offensive rebounds in Friday's game. While they struggled to convert, with just 17 second-chance points, it was still a back-breaker.

Early in the season, the Magic are 27th, giving up a 36.0 percent offensive rebound rate. They are 10th, giving up just 14.5 second-chance points.

These stats have flipped from the preseason! But rebounding is key to the Magic's identity. And they must be better on the glass to finish off defensive possessions.

3. Slow starts

The Orlando Magic are not the only team out to a surprisingly slow start.

The Miami Heat lost to the Charlotte Hornets to fall to 0-3 to open the year. The San Antonio Spurs got their first win on Saturday night. And the defending champion New York Knicks have looked slow out of the gates, falling to 0-2 to open the season.

All of these teams will get themselves right. Even the Magic do not seem too concerned, even with the struggles they had at home -- and the tough schedule ahead in the immediate future. Everyone will find a win somewhere.

The Magic will have to figure this out without Paolo Banchero for the time being.

New York should not be worried either, even though the team's offense has looked very sluggish to open the season.

To be sure, the Magic and Knicks will be desperate for a win on Sunday night.

Orlando Magic at New York Knicks: Injury Report & Projected Lineups

Orlando Magic Injury Report

  • Paolo Banchero - OUT (Right Low Grade High Ankle Sprain)
  • Anthony Black - QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
  • Noah Penda - OUT (Right Partially Torn Hamstring)
  • Jonathan Isaac - OUT (Left Knee Injury Management)
  • Izaiyah Nelson - OUT (Left Ankle Injury Recovery)

New York Knicks Injury Report

  • Jose Alvarado - QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle Sprain)

Projected Starting Lineups

Orlando

New York

Jalen Suggs

PG

Jalen Brunson

Desmond Bane

SG

Mikal Bridges

Franz Wagner

SF

OG Anunoby

Tristan da Silva

PF

Josh Hart

Wendell Carter

C

Karl-Anthony Towns

Orlando Magic at New York Knicks: Prediction

2027 Record: 0-2/0-2 ATS

Both the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks know they are better than their early season record.

Both teams faced pretty put-together and strong teams -- the Orlando Magic losing to the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks losing to the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.

If anything, a game like this is proof of how much more competitive the Eastern Conference is. Anybody can beat anybody. And every win is clearly earned.

I would suspect both teams will come out eager to put those losses behind them. They both need wins in the worst ways.

At this point, though, you have to trust the Knicks and their veteran championship poise over the Magic. The Magic have looked a bit lost in their first two games. There are some really brilliant moments that hint at what this team can be, and then there are moments that make you question everything they have built.

And now, doing that without Paolo Banchero on a team that has a lot of questionable creative depth will make the challenge that much harder.

The Magic could win this game. They could win any game. The talent is still there. And they tend to perform well with Franz Wagner leading the way. But the hints have not presented themselves to score this one. Not unless the Knicks are in more trouble than everyone realizes.

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