Knicks Fall to Magic Without Karl-Anthony Towns

If anything, the latest New York Knicks game provided a sterling MVP case for Karl-Anthony Towns … albeit in absentia.

Towns sat out of the first game of a lengthy defense of the Eastern Seaboard, and the Orlando Magic took advantage to the tune of 103-94 victory over the Knicks. With the loss, the Knicks have dropped three games in a row for the first time this season.

A warm welcome home for the Knicks, who were tied with Indiana for the most road games in the NBA this season entering Monday night, was no match for an Orlando group giving its all despite a lengthy injury report of its own.

While the Knicks (24-13) were missing both Towns and Miles McBride, the Magic continue to miss franchise faces Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, as well as depth stars Gary Harris, Jalen Suggs and Mo Wagner. Orlando was also coming off a dreary loss to the lowly Utah Jazz on Sunday.

All that and more was no matter to the Magic (22-16) who enjoyed a 24-point effort from Cole Anthony, the son of former Knicks sharpshooter Greg.

With McBride out for the fourth straight, the Magic gave the Knicks a taste of what they were missing: Wendell Carter Jr. and Jonathan Isaac united for 32 points on 12-of-16 shooting (the latter going 3-of-3 from three-point range) while Anthony Black and Jett Howard were each a plus-11 in relief.

Part two of the Knicks’ homestand lands on Wednesday night when they welcome in the Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).

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