Kemba Walker jumper over Cole Anthony white uniform
The Knicks continued their strong start to the 2021-22 season with their second straight win Friday, dominating the Orlando Magic in a 121-96 rout.
Here are some key takeaways …
– Kemba Walker got things started with an early three-pointer, but the Knicks were cold as a team to start the game, missing four of their first five shots. They snapped out of it quickly, thanks to the three ball, as Walker hit two more and Julius Randle and Evan Fournier both added one of their own. Eight of the Knicks’ first nine shots were from long range, propelling them to a three-point lead midway through the quarter.
The Knicks continued to shoot well from beyond the arc (7 of 13), and their defense held the Magic to 27.3% shooting overall, resulting in a 36-16 Knicks’ lead after one. Fournier led the way with 10 points.
– The offensive onslaught continued in the opening minutes of the second, with Obi Toppin, Derrick Rose, Immanuel Quickley and Jericho Sims getting in on the action. As a team, the Knicks hit 10 of their first 19 threes.
The Knicks dominated the Magic in the first half, taking a 65-35 lead into the break while leading in almost every team category, including points in the paint (22-12), fast break points (18-3), and bench points (21-9). Fournier led all scorers with 15 at the break, and 10 different Knicks scored in the half.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, this was just the third 30-point halftime lead on the road in Knicks’ history, and their first since 2001 at Golden State.
– In the third, the Magic went on an early 8-0 run, thanks in part to a handful of Knicks’ turnovers as they trimmed the lead to 22 points. Orlando continued to pick up momentum, extending their run to 22-4 to trim the lead even further to 16 points.
Story continues
In the midst of the run, Mitchell Robinson went up for a rebound and landed on Randle’s foot. Robinson fell to the floor and grabbed at his left hamstring. Robinson went to the bench and was worked on by the training staff, and he would return to the game.
Randle and Rose hit a pair of threes to bring the Knicks out of the funk, and the Knicks carried a 22-point lead into the fourth.
– The early minutes of the fourth quarter belonged to Toppin, who put on a show with a pair of threes and a dunk to give him 13 points on the night.
With just under six minutes to go, Quickley hit the Knicks’ 20th three of the game, tying a franchise record. For good measure, Quickley drilled another triple to set a new franchise record with 21 three-pointers. The Knicks ended up with 24 threes on the night, coming from eight different players.
Randle led the Knicks with 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Fournier finished with 18 on 4-of-9 three-point shooting, and Quickley added 16 points off the bench. Seven Knicks scored in double-digits.
Highlights
What’s next
The Knicks take on the Magic again, this time at The Garden, on Sunday night at 7 p.m.
