The Orlando Magic were grounding to a halt.
They could not get to the paint. Their two star players, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane, were unable to create any space or find any crease to score, combining for 5-for-19 shooting through three quarters.
Wagner was 1 for 10 on his own.
The Magic were just trying to keep contact with the defending champs on their home floor, equally desperate for their first win.
Orlando needed to show what a Sean Sweeney team can do. They needed to show who they can be. They needed to do whatever it took to get their first win.
Beyond Wagner waking up to score 21 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to spark and awaken the Magic's lackluster offense, the Magic were dominant on defense. They erased an early 10-point deficit in the quarter, forced their way to the rim, and complemented it with 3-point shooting that would not stop.
Orlando forced seven turnovers in the quarter and held New York to 9-for-19 shooting, outscoring New York 40-27 in the final frame. That amounted to what Sweeney's brand of basketball will look like when it is operating at full force.
This is a team that scrambles on defense, runs on those mistakes and spreads the floor with force and spacing. That is what netted the Magic a 111-102 victory at Madison Square Garden.
The Magic needed some proof what they were doing was working, this was clearly it.
The players who struggled for much of the game woke up and made big plays down the stretch, led by Franz Wagner's 23 but also boosted by 22 from Desmond Bane, 18 from Anthony Black off the bench and 19 from Tristan da Silva.
The Magic did what good teams must do: Find a way to stay in the game when they do not have their best and lock in and find a way to win at the end.
There is certainly some hope this team can put all the pieces together after all.
The only bad news in this game came with about two minutes left.
As the Magic were trying to put the cherry on top of this win, Jalen Suggs got a steal and a fast break. As he went up for the layup, his knee buckled, and he fell to the floor. He was helped off the court as the Magic brace for another major injury.
Defensive lockdown
The Orlando Magic know their identity needs to be on defense. That is central to whatever measure of success they have had in the last few seasons. It is what they lost throughout last season.
Their first two games did not inspire much defensive confidence.
It has been there in fits and starts. But with the Orlando Magic coming out of the gates slowly offensively and giving the New York Knicks the first 10 points, they needed to dig in and defend to give themselves a chance.
There were still a few breakdowns. They still gave up too many offensive rebounds -- 12 for 15 second-chance points. But when the Magic needed their defense, it delivered. It kept them in the game until their offense could find its spark.
New York shot only 40.9 percent from the floor and an icy 9 for 38 from three. The Magic held the Knicks to 102.0 points per 100 possessions, a strong defensive flex. The Magic forced 16 turnovers for 23 points, including seven for 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Orlando finally could lean on its defense to deliver for it. And that is all this team could ask for.
Anthony Black returns
When one player leaves the active roster, the Orlando Magic at least get back another.
Anthony Black checked in for his first action of the season after missing all of training camp, preseason and the first two games with a sprained ankle suffered in voluntary workouts. With the Magic struggling to score and create, they needed any boost they could get.
Black delivered almost immediately. He made the team's first field goal midway through the first quarter and kept the pressure on. He had 12 points and made three of his four 3-pointers at the half, finishing the game with 18 points and 5-for-7 shooting from three in nearly 26 minutes.
The Magic will need all hands on deck to get through this period with injuries. Their bench was seriously struggling to score and Black immediately gives the team a downhill attacker and a suddenly confident shooter.
Black is still on a minute restriction. But his presence was a big deal for the team.
Offense creating better threes
How much should you trust the Orlando Magic's 3-point shooting?
Is it the 20-percent shooting team from Friday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves? Or is it closer to what we saw in the preseason? Or is it the 18-for-42 showing (42.9 percent) the Magic had in Sunday's game?
Undoubtedly, the Magic needed 3-point shooting to keep themselves in the game. They could not get to the paint without Paolo Banchero, scoring only 32 points in the paint and taking just 36 attempts. They struggled to get to the line too -- just 21 attempts, at least making 17.
The New York Knicks' defense is really solid. It is keeping them afloat while the offense figures itself out early in the season. But the 3-point shooting was the Magic's lifeline Sunday night.
The Magic undoubtedly have a better offensive design that is creating better 3-point looks. And Sean Sweeney clearly has no qualms about letting players shoot.
The Magic were not afraid to let it fly and have not been afraid to let it fly all season so far. They are going to keep sticking with it, despite all the scarring Magic fans have about their 3-point shooting.
Orlando may just ride the 3-point wave one way or the other. Sunday, it worked for them and gave them the chance to win.
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