The Orlando Magic (14-9) travel to face the New York Knicks (15-7) in a pivotal Eastern Conference matchup on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Both teams are jockeying for position in the playoff race, with the Knicks holding a slight edge in the standings as the No. 2 seed in the East, while the Magic sit at No. 4. This game marks the third meeting of the season between these Atlantic Division rivals, who have already delivered two high-scoring affairs earlier this year. Expect a physical, fast-paced battle at the iconic Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks have been nearly unbeatable lately.
Game Details
Tipoff: 12:00 p.m. ET (tip-off).
Venue: Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001. The arena, known as “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” seats 19,812 for basketball and has hosted countless Knicks classics. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. ET for fans.
Broadcast: MSG Network (local for Knicks), FanDuel Sports Florida (local for Magic), and NBA League Pass for out-of-market viewers. Radio coverage on ESPN Radio 98.7 FM (Knicks) and 96.5 The Game (Magic).
Officials: To be announced (TBA per NBA protocol).
This matinee tips off a full slate of Sunday NBA action, making it a prime viewing slot for East Coast fans looking to beat the holiday rush.
Injury Report
Injuries could play a significant role, particularly for the Knicks, who may be without their star big man. Here’s the latest from the NBA’s official injury report as of December 6, 2025:
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury/Details | Estimated Return |
| Magic | Moritz Wagner | PF | Out | Left knee (injury recovery) | December 18 |
| Magic | Colin Castleton | C | Out | G League (two-way contract) | Indefinite |
| Knicks | Karl-Anthony Towns | C | Questionable | Left calf tightness | December 7 |
| Knicks | Landry Shamet | G | Out | Left shoulder strain | December 24 |
| Knicks | Pacome Dadiet | G | Questionable | G League (on assignment) | December 7 |
| Knicks | Tosan Evbuomwan | F | Questionable | G League (two-way) | December 7 |
| Knicks | Trey Jemison III | C | Questionable | G League (two-way) | December 7 |
| Knicks | Kevin McCullar Jr. | G | Questionable | G League (two-way) | December 7 |
The Magic are relatively healthy up front with Paolo Banchero back from a groin strain, but they’ll miss Wagner’s bench scoring and rebounding (averaging 12.4 PPG and 5.2 RPG). For the Knicks, Towns’ status is the headline— he’s second in the NBA with 11.9 RPG and a key part of their top-3 offensive rating (122.2). If he sits, Mitchell Robinson steps up, but New York’s depth takes a hit.
Key Player Matchups
This game’s intrigue lies in the star-studded individual battles, blending scoring prowess, defense, and physicality. Here’s a breakdown of the top five head-to-heads:
Jalen Brunson (Knicks PG) vs. Jalen Suggs (Magic SG): Brunson (28.2 PPG, 6.7 APG) has been a scoring machine, dropping 33 in each of his last two wins. Suggs (18.4 PPG, elite defender) will hound him full-court, using his length to disrupt drives. Edge: Brunson if he exploits switches; Suggs could force turnovers (Magic rank 3rd in steals at 8.6 SPG).
Franz Wagner (Magic SF) vs. Mikal Bridges (Knicks SF): Wagner (24.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG) is Orlando’s offensive engine post-Banchero injury, shooting 48% from the field. Bridges (19.1 PPG, lockdown perimeter D) thrives in MSG chaos. This could be a 40-point combined night. Edge: Wagner’s scoring volume.
Paolo Banchero (Magic PF) vs. OG Anunoby (Knicks SF/PF): Banchero returns from groin issues with 22.1 PPG and All-Star upside. Anunoby (16.8 PPG, 1.5 SPG) is a versatile defender who can slide to power forward. Banchero’s post-ups vs. Anunoby’s help D will test Orlando’s paint attack. Edge: Banchero’s athleticism.
Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks C) vs. Wendell Carter Jr. (Magic C): If Towns plays (21.5 PPG, 11.9 RPG), it’s a battle of stretch bigs— Towns shoots 39% from three, Carter 35%. Carter (12.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG) anchors Orlando’s No. 5 defense (113.9 OPP PPG). Without Towns, Robinson’s rim protection (2.1 BPG) favors the Magic. Edge: Towns if active.
Desmond Bane (Magic SG) vs. Miles McBride (Knicks PG/SG): Bane (20.2 PPG, 4.6 APG) is a sharpshooter (38% 3PT), but McBride’s energy off the bench (12.4 PPG lately) could wear him down. Edge: Bane’s experience.
These matchups highlight the Knicks’ edge in star power and home energy, but Orlando’s youth and depth could keep it close.
Team Records and Standings Context
Orlando Magic (14-9, 4th in East): 7-4 home, 7-5 road. They’re 7-3 in their last 10, climbing after a slow start. Offense: 118.6 PPG (9th); Defense: 113.9 OPP PPG (5th). Rebounding leaders (44.9 RPG, 10th).
New York Knicks (15-7, 2nd in East): 9-2 home, 6-5 road. 8-2 in last 10, with a +7.3 net rating (4th). Offense: 122.1 PPG (3rd); Defense: 114.8 OPP PPG (14th). Elite at home (13-3-1 ATS in MSG games this season).
The Knicks lead the season series 0-2, but both losses were close (17 and 12 points), suggesting Orlando can compete.
Recent Team Forms
Both squads are rolling into this one hot, with four wins apiece in their last five. Here’s a quick look:
Orlando Magic Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Dec 5 | vs. MIA | W 106-105 | Wagner 32P/6A; Suggs 22P |
| Dec 3 | vs. SAS | L 112-114 | Bane 25P; Close OT loss |
| Dec 1 | vs. CHI | W 125-120 | Bane 37P; 12 steals |
| Nov 28 | @ DET | W 112-109 | Bane 37P; Defensive stand |
| Nov 25 | @ PHI | W 144-103 | Team 53.5% FG; Blowout |
Form: 4-1. The Magic have won seven of nine overall, fueled by Banchero’s return and Wagner’s consistency. They’re 3-2 ATS in this stretch, averaging 119.8 PPG.
New York Knicks Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Dec 5 | vs. UTA | W 146-112 | Brunson 33P; 56% FG |
| Dec 3 | vs. CHA | W 119-104 | Towns 35P/18R; Dominant |
| Dec 2 | @ BOS | L 117-123 | Bridges 35P; Tough road L |
| Nov 26 | vs. (TBA) | W 129-101 | Brunson 33P; Balanced |
| Nov 24 | vs. (TBA) | W 113-100 | Towns 37P/12R |
Form: 4-1. New York is 5-0 in their last five home games, with a blistering offense (124.6 PPG in wins). They’re 4-1 ATS recently, but the Boston loss exposed road vulnerabilities.
Series History
All-Time Regular Season: Magic lead 70-66 in 136 games. Orlando has won 7 of the last 10, including a 3-1 edge since 2024.
2025-26 Season Series: Magic 2-0. Nov 12: Magic 124-107 @ Knicks (Wagner 28P). Nov 22: Magic 133-121 vs. Knicks (Wagner 37P). Both games went OVER the total, with Orlando’s defense forcing 14+ turnovers each time.
Trends: Games average 225.4 total points; Knicks are 4-6 ATS in the last 10 H2H.
Betting Trends
Key Trends:
Knicks: 13-8-1 ATS overall (59%); 11-3-1 ATS as 3.5+ favorites. 12-10-1 O/U; 4-1 SU in last 5.
Magic: 11-12-0 ATS (48%); 3-1 ATS as 3.5+ underdogs. 10-13 O/U; 7-3 L10 SU.
H2H: 6-4 to the OVER in last 10; Knicks 2-7 ATS in last 9 road games vs. Orlando.
Game Odds
Orlando Magic 232.5
New York Knicks – 3.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, December 6, 2025
