Magic at Knicks
The New York Knicks are trying to take advantage of a brief stay at home and took the opener of a three-game homestand 118-111 over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. The Knicks, who were returning from a five-day trip on Tuesday and will embark on a three-game excursion next Wednesday, can clinch a winning homestand with a win over the visiting Orlando Magic on Thursday.
New York fell behind by 15 points in the third quarter against the Pacers before star forward Carmelo Anthony took over and finished with a season high-tying 35 points. Anthony was in a deep slump at the beginning of the road trip, going 7-of-31 from the floor in two games before sitting out at Golden State last Thursday, but picked things up at Denver with a 10-of-14 effort to close out the road trip and carried the momentum into Tuesday by burying 7-of-11 3-point attempts. The Magic followed up one of the worst performances of the season with one of their best, earning a 136-130 double-overtime win at Miami after falling 109-79 to Toronto at home in the previous contest. "We were very disappointed about how we responded to getting down against Toronto and we gave in in that game," Orlando coach Frank Vogel told reporters. "The challenge that was presented to our guys tonight each time we got down was, 'Are we going to give in? Or are we going to fight?' Our guys responded and we got a big-time win."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Orlando), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (13-17): Center Nikola Vucevic is coming off the bench behind Bismack Biyombo, but he is still the big man Orlando chooses when it needs a big bucket. Vucevic ended up playing 40 minutes in a reserve role on Tuesday and finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds while playing solid defense against Miami center Hassan Whiteside. "(Vucevic) is a smart defender," Magic shooting guard Evan Fournier told reporters. "He’s not the most athletic guy, but he’s very smart and he takes good angles. So it’s good to have Vooch on both ends of the floor."
ABOUT THE KNICKS (15-13): Anthony was quick to praise his teammates after Tuesday's win, correctly pointing out that for the team to succeed Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick Rose need to shoulder some of the load as well. "We're going to need that to take the next step," Anthony told reporters of the balanced offense. "That fourth quarter when I got out of the game, (Porzingis) and Derrick stepped up and took over the game. We're a dangerous team when we can get guys going like that from different areas." Rose (back) returned from a from a two-game absence on Tuesday and appeared well-rested while pouring in 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Knicks C Joakim Noah collected 11 points and 11 rebounds on Tuesday for his second double-double of the season.
2. Fournier is averaging 21.8 points on 53.2 percent shooting over the last five games.
3. Orlando took two of the three meetings last season and five of the last eight.