On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks will compete for a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
This matchup might just be a preview of bigger battles to come between these two teams.
The East Group A title and an automatic bid to the NBA Cup quarterfinals will be on the line when the Magic visit the Knicks in their first meeting of the season between these Eastern Conference contenders.
Both teams were off on Monday after securing victories on Sunday. The Magic notched their sixth straight win by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 100-92 on the road, while the Knicks dominated the New Orleans Pelicans 118-85 at home.
The Magic and Knicks set up their showdown for the Group A title on Friday, both remaining undefeated in Group A play with wins over the Nets and Charlotte Hornets, respectively.
While the Knicks cannot earn one of the two wild-card berths, the Magic are well-positioned to advance to the quarterfinals barring a lopsided defeat on Tuesday.
Orlando would secure a wild card over the Boston Celtics, who finished second in East Group C, as well as the loser of Tuesday’s Group B matchup between the unbeaten Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks, as long as the Magic lose by fewer than 37 points or in overtime.
Regardless of Tuesday’s outcome, the Magic and Knicks appear to be poised to contend for a much larger prize in the spring.
Despite dealing with injuries and inconsistency, Orlando and New York enter Tuesday’s game as the third- and fourth-place teams in the Eastern Conference. The Magic have won 12 of their last 13 games without third-year star Paolo Banchero, who has been sidelined since October 30 with a torn right oblique.
Sunday’s gritty win was encouraging for the Magic, who have won nine of their last 12 games by double figures. Orlando led 72-65 late in the third quarter before the Nets briefly took a pair of one-point leads in the fourth.
A three-pointer by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope broke an 83-83 tie and started a game-ending 17-9 run for the Magic, who won despite being called for a season-high 29 fouls. Brooklyn was whistled for 31 fouls.
The Knicks are hoping Sunday’s decisive win helps them find some much-needed consistency. Mikal Bridges, who was benched in the fourth quarter of Friday’s win over the Hornets, scored 11 unanswered points to cap a 23-1 first-quarter run for New York on Sunday, which led the undermanned Pelicans by at least 21 points throughout the final three quarters.
Bridges, acquired from the Nets on July 6, is one of two new starters for the Knicks, who obtained Karl-Anthony Towns in a three-way trade on October 2. Additionally, OG Anunoby is in his first full season with New York after being acquired from the Toronto Raptors on December 30 last year.
The Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, have won more than two straight games just once this season.
