The resilient Orlando Magic take a perfect NBA Cup record into the tournament’s semifinals Saturday, while the New York Knicks roll into Las Vegas having feasted ever since Thanksgiving week.
In their duel to decide who will represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Cup finals Tuesday, the Magic once again will be without a top player, with Franz Wagner not expected to play, while the Knicks have nearly been unbeatable since Nov. 24 with an 8-1 record.
Wagner came away with a high left ankle sprain during the Magic’s 106-100 road loss to the Knicks on Sunday. He was not on the court when Orlando earned its spot in the NBA Cup East final with a 117-108 home victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
But Paolo Banchero is back for Orlando. He scored 18 points with seven rebounds against the Heat in his third game since sitting out 10 contests with a strained left groin.
Wagner and Banchero have played just one full game together since Nov. 14, but the team has managed to go 9-4 in that stretch. The Magic went a perfect 4-0 in NBA Cup group play before getting past the Heat in an elimination game.
While Banchero and Wagner have fluctuated in and out of the lineup, Desmond Bane has not missed a game, averaging 19.0 points with 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his first season with the team following an offseason trade from the Memphis Grizzlies. He torched Miami for 37 points Tuesday.
“I think it’s a collective,” Bane said. “Paolo is on the floor, just working his way back. Every time he puts the ball on the floor, it seems like there are three guys coming after him. And the beautiful thing about him, he’s a very willing passer. … I am getting more comfortable, but I think everybody is.”
The Magic not only faced the Knicks less than a week ago, but the teams have already played each other three times this season, with Orlando winning two of them. The Magic handed the Knicks their only home loss this season, 124-107, on Nov. 12.
Even with both teams in the top four of the Eastern Conference and now set to take each other on to represent the East in the NBA Cup final, Knicks head coach Mike Brown was hesitant to call the matchup an intense rivalry.
“It’s a little tough just because I don’t think (either) team has been completely healthy when we played each other,” Brown told reporters this week. “I don’t necessarily feel like it’s on the rivalry level yet. But it can be in due time, but I don’t think it’s there yet.”
New York’s Jalen Brunson scored 30 points with nine assists as the Knicks got past the Magic last weekend, then he scored 35 points in a 117-101 victory at Toronto on Tuesday that earned New York the trip to Las Vegas. Karl Anthony-Towns added 14 points and 16 rebounds.
The Knicks shot 52.5% from the floor in the victory while going 45.7% from 3-point range. Brunson went 6 of 9 from distance.
–Field Level Media
