NEW YORK, NY — The Knicks held a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter Sunday night and had an opportunity to finally put a victory behind their championship celebration, but instead another game slipped away from them.

This time against Orlando as the Magic outscored New York 40-27 in the final period, handing the defending champions a 111-102 loss at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are now 0-3, becoming the first reigning NBA champions to lose their first three games since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks.

Another lead disappears

New York opened the first quarter with a 12-0 run and attacked the paint despite continued struggles from outside, leading to a 52-48 advantage at halftime. The Knicks were then ahead 86-76 with 9:19 remaining before Orlando answered on 11 consecutive points to take its first lead.

Taking over for Orlando down the stretch after New York had largely contained him was Franz Wagner who finished with 23 points.

hype me up Franz pic.twitter.com/wJT6JaKzNQ

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 26, 2026

Without the Magic’s superstar Paolo Banchero, Wagner stepped up as did Orlando’s bench, contributing 47 points combined, compared to 11 from the Knicks’.

Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 28 points but needed 28 shots to do so, finishing 1-7 from three-point range. New York went 9-38 from beyond the arc shooting 24% from downtown however the problems extended beyond the team’s missed shots. 

Orlando scored 23 points off New York’s turnovers. Head coach Mike Brown pointed to that and the Magic collecting five of six loose balls in the fourth quarter.

“That shows which team was the aggressor,” he said following a pregame press conference hours before where he also emphasized that reserve roles remained open.

"One thing I want to make clear is, we have our starting 5. Other than that, anybody can play. When you're a backup in this league, that doesn't mean you're always going to be the 7th man"

Mike Brown talks about the rotation when asked about playing James Wiseman over Andre… pic.twitter.com/lWYnlfGj3B

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 25, 2026

That competition played out behind Dominican-American Karl-Anthony Towns Sunday evening. Each playing seven minutes while KAT was on the bench, Andre Drummond went scoreless while James Wiseman missed all five of his shots and struggled defensively late in the game.

Bridges’ shooting slump deepens

As New York was outscored by 23 points with him on the floor, Mikal Bridges scored six points on 3-for-7 shooting, missing all three attempts from beyond the arc. 

Through three games to start the season, Bridges has scored 10 total points, averaging 3.3 per game. He is shooting 21.7% from the field, making 5-23 attempts and has missed all 10 of his 3-point attempts. And he has yet to attempt a free throw.

that's a whole lot of dishing 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/Y4pYWBV1VR

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 25, 2026

Three games represent a small sample, but the Knicks need considerably more production from a starting wing playing alongside Brunson and Towns.

Bridges’ inability to provide consistent scoring has compounded an offense already struggling to find its rhythm and identity.

KAT provides a steady presence

Towns has been New York’s most consistent offensive performer to open the season despite his foul troubles. The 30-year-old big man recorded his third consecutive double-double, finishing with 22 points and 14 rebounds while adding four assists.

THAT'S AN AGGRESSIVE KAT. pic.twitter.com/Z4DN5JIu5w

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 26, 2026

He shot 8-15 from the field and made six of seven free throws.

After foul trouble complicated his early-season work, Towns committed only two fouls in 33 minutes Sunday.

His passing helped New York build its fourth-quarter cushion, including a feed to a cutting OG Anunoby (20 points) for a basket and foul. 

8 straight for 8 🪣

KAT with the absolute dime 🪙 pic.twitter.com/WZnH0csJj2

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 26, 2026

Towns’ production gave the Knicks a chance to win. Their inability to sustain that level when he rested exposed the team’s uncertainty behind him with the loss of Mitchell Robinson in free agency which may be a topic that may get referenced a lot this season until the Knicks are able to solidify their backup center position.

Orlando’s milestone win comes with concern

Sean Sweeney earned his first victory as an NBA head coach, but Orlando’s celebration came with concern for Jalen Suggs.

Suggs went down with a non-contact right knee injury on a late fast-break layup attempt and needed help leaving the court. With Banchero already unavailable, Orlando faced another injury concern after health problems disrupted recent seasons.

“Thoughts & prayers to Jalen Suggs, you don’t ever wanna see anybody go down with an injury like that,” Brown said.

Sweeney’s path to Orlando included starting in video work with the Nets and assistant coaching stops in Milwaukee, Detroit and Dallas.

first of many, congrats coach Sweeney! pic.twitter.com/itPtmpkZOh

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 26, 2026

He later served as San Antonio’s associate head coach before receiving his first NBA head coaching opportunity. Sweeney was a part of the Spurs coaching staff that lost to the Knicks in this past NBA Finals.

Tristan da Silva makes a winning impact

Tristan da Silva supplied 19 points off the Magic’s bench, making five of nine three-pointers. Born in Munich to a Brazilian father and German mother, da Silva spent childhood summers in Brazil and speaks multiple languages including Portuguese and Spanish.

Now at the age 24, and selected by Orlando 18th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, he developed in Germany before playing four seasons at Colorado University, where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors. 

https://t.co/T69k2DYpTi pic.twitter.com/Tf68fnNEky

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 26, 2026

Looking Ahead

For New York, their next time out on Tuesday brings the unbeaten Detroit Pistons, who finished atop the Eastern Conference last season. The Pistons arrive 3-0 with an opportunity to make an early statement against the champions who eliminated them in the 2025 playoffs.

Brown’s message was that winning requires sustained effort, especially while shots are not falling.

“Our crap stinks. It does. And we’re the only ones that can do something about it.”

Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content