Jalen Brunson scored 30 points and OG Anunoby added 21 as the Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic, 106-110, at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
The Magic are the only team to have beaten the Knicks at home this season. With the win the Knicks avoid being swept in the season series. The Knicks (16-7 overall, 13-1 at home) lost to Orlando at the Garden on Nov. 12. Ten days later, they were defeated in Orlando, 137-121.
The Knicks got the win despite playing without Karl-Anthony Towns, who was held out of the game with calf tightness.
Orlando played most of the game without Franz Wagner. Wagner, going up for a dunk on a lob pass from Anthony Black, was fouled hard by Knicks center and fellow German Ariel Hukporti. Wagner landed awkwardly and, after writhing on the court while grabbing his left knee, was helped off to the locker room by his brother Mo and a team staff member. The Magic announced that Wagner had suffered a lower leg injury and will be re-evaluated when the team returned to Orlando.
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.