The New York Knicks fell 124-107 to the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, ending their perfect home start of the season. Head coach Mike Brown did not hold back in his postgame comments, acknowledging the team’s struggles.
Brown said, “Jamahl Mosley and the rest of Orlando Magic, they kicked our ass. It’s as simple as that. They came out with a physical presence that we didn’t handle well.” He pointed to Orlando’s ability to get to the free-throw line and control the possession game as key factors in the Knicks’ defeat.
Orlando converted 33 free throws and grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the first half alone, building a 20-point lead by halftime. Brown highlighted that the Knicks’ lack of aggression on the boards and in transition contributed to the early deficit. “We didn’t crash. We had 10 offensive rebounds. Nor did we get back in transition,” he said, noting that the team only recorded 11 fast-break points—a season low.
Brown criticized his team for blaming officiating early in the game. “Everything that happened on the court we blamed the officials,” he said. “We were the culprits of a lot of stuff that happened out on the floor.” He emphasized the importance of playing physical without relying on calls from referees.
Spacing issues also hindered New York’s offense. Brown explained that players were slow to make cuts and often stopped in the paint, limiting effective ball movement. “Our spacing wasn’t good. Our ability to handle the basketball while getting bumped wasn’t good,” he said. He acknowledged that the team improved in the second half but noted the early deficit made a comeback difficult.
The Knicks were further challenged by mismatches in transition and the pick-and-roll. Brown said, “Sometimes it puts a small guy on a bigger guy. Our smaller guys did not do their work early,” leading to easy points for Orlando. He stressed the need for players to stand their ground and defend properly, regardless of size disparities.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points but rolled his right ankle late in the game, while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Despite their efforts, New York could not overcome Orlando’s balanced attack led by Franz Wagner, who scored 28 points.
Brown concluded by reinforcing accountability: “We’re a no-excuse team. We got to go play the right way as best we can and not lay the blame any place else except square on us.” The Knicks will look to rebound when they host the Miami Heat on Friday.
