Franz Wagner went down awkwardly after being fouled by Ariel Hukporti in the first quarter, immediately writhing in pain on the ground and grabbing his left knee. He stayed there for a few minutes before he was helped — basically carried — into the locker room, unable to put any weight on his left leg. He was quickly ruled out. 

Just like that, the biggest Knicks killer this year — and the Magic’s leading scorer on the year — was out of the equation. Wagner scored 28 and 37 points against the Knicks in the two previous matchups between the teams this year, both Magic wins. Beyond those two games, he and the Magic looked like a potential playoff roadblock down the road for the Knicks in the Eastern Conference. 

But with what could be a serious injury, that dynamic changed in a hurry. 

The Knicks (16-7) won, 106-100, Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. They improved to a stellar 13-1 at MSG, one of just two teams in the NBA — along with the Thunder — with fewer than two home losses. The one game the Knicks dropped at home was to… the Magic. 

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson celebrates a 3-pointer against the Magic on Dec. 7, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

They were shorthanded themselves, playing without Karl-Anthony Towns due to left calf soreness and Miles McBride exiting early. Jalen Brunson, despite another poor shooting day from 3-point range, led them with 30 points. 

After trailing at halftime by one point, the Knicks scored the first 13 points of the third quarter to take control. They led the rest of the way. And they scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to take a 16-point lead. 

Coach Mike Brown perhaps pulled his starters too early, as the Magic cut the deficit to six points with 10.3 seconds. Brown re-inserted his starters, who avoided catastrophe. 

Franz Wagner (22) of the Magic is guarded by the Knicks’ OG Anunoby (8) on Dec. 7, 2025. AP

What’s happening on and off the Garden court

Sign up for Inside the Knicks by Stefan Bondy, a weekly exclusive on Sports+.

Thank you

Josh Hart keeps making Brown’s decision to insert him into the starting lineup look like the right one. He had a double-double, recording 17 points and 12 rebounds. He drilled 3 of 5 3-pointers he took. 

OG Anunoby, playing in his second game after missing the previous nine with a hamstring strain, enjoyed a strong shooting night, going 5-for-7 from deep and finishing with 21 points. He also did a good job guarding Paolo Banchero, who scored just 16 points. Anunoby also had seven rebounds and three steals and was a team-best plus-20. 

After the Magic had cut their deficit to nine late in the fourth quarter, Anunoby scored five straight points to end any thought of a comeback. 

Mitchell Robinson started in Towns’ place and recorded six points and 13 rebounds. Hukporti, seeing more action than usual with Towns out, gave the Knicks valuable minutes, particularly on the defensive end. He had six points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Notably, he made all four free throws he took. 

OG Anunoby (8) of the Knicks dunks against the Magic on Dec. 7, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

Along with the Heat, Bulls and Bucks, the Knicks have now gotten revenge and beaten all the teams that they previously lost to. Their only other loss came to the Celtics, whom they beat beforehand. 

Sunday might not have been as much of a statement game once Wagner went out, but it was the latest step in getting right in all the places they’ve wronged.Â