Knicks vs Magic: Injury Report, Depth Chart, and More Ahead Of East’s NBA Cup Encounter

While the fans batted their eyes at popular teams, the Orlando Magic silently orchestrated a legendary comeback. After losing Paolo Banchero early in the season, the team looked like it would settle at the bottom. They were par for the course as they lost 5 games in a row early on. However, something just switched on and the Florida side suddenly looks lethal. Currently, they are on a 6-game winning streak and a 12-1 run. All thanks to Franz Wagner’s consistency and the impressive defense unit.

With this aggressive run, they take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden tonight at 7:30 PM ET. Moreover, the Knicks aren’t any less either. Despite a thin frontcourt and lack of depth, the team managed to clinch the fourth seed in the East, one step behind the Magic in the third seed.

Tonight, the winner of the game will be crowned the champion of East Group A, as both teams have won 3 games each. Amid this equation, let’s find out about player availability and injury reports of both teams to figure out the odds. The Magic has had a stable injury report since the start of the season. After just playing 5 games in the season, Paolo Banchero sustained a torn oblique, leaving him out of action for at least 2-3 months. Apart from him, the team has a recent entrant, Gary Harris, who sustained a hamstring injury and will miss his fourth consecutive game tonight.

On the other hand, the Knicks also have a similar story. Karl-Anthony Towns, the new big of New York City, has been operating near the rim without any support for a long time. So, as per the current injury report issued by the team, Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson won’t be playing tonight. Notably, ESPN reported that Achiuwa was “getting closer” to making his season debut.

Knicks vs Magic: Starting Lineup and Depth Chart

Once the Knicks have their bigs back, Coach Tom Thibodeau will have a reliable bench to take care of the rotation. Currently, apart from Miles McBride, Coach Thibs doesn’t really trust anyone from the Knicks bench. It’s very evident with the number of minutes that the starting lineup punches in every game. So, in short, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson are the driving force, keeping the Knicks floating in the East. Not to forget the efforts of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart on the defensive end.

The New York Knicks

The Orlando Magic

Can the Magic continue their dream run and clinch the East Group A crown? Or will Jalen Brunson & Co. stage a shocker? Let us know in the comments below.