Ugly Delicious

Was it pretty? Heck no. But these Knicks are learning how to win in different ways.

Good morning! You’re damn right a 23-point win in Orlando deserves a weekend edition.

Game 31: Knicks 108, Magic 85

• As usual, the Magic brought ample physicality from the opening tip.

• Tied at halftime, the game devolved into a turnover fest early in the third before the Knicks went on a 25-7 run to take control - a run that began when Jalen Brunson duped Jalen Suggs into his fifth foul.

• Josh Hart was peak Josh Hart throughout the second half, taking whatever Orlando threw New York’s way and tossing it right back at them.

• Landry Shamet re-entered the rotation as part of a three-guard backup unit.

• The Knicks won despite hitting only four 3-pointers, working the Magic defense inside the arc all night long.

• Thibs again limited the rotation in the second half, only playing Deuce and Precious off the bench before garbage time.

The Orlando Magic do not screw around.

Take a game against them for granted, and you’ll not only leave the arena with a loss, but probably a few missing teeth as well.

They have perfected a style of (mostly) legal brutality that keeps them in games they seem to have no business being in. The longer they hang around, the better their odds become as your will to compete slowly gets sapped, replaced by a desire to just get the hell out of dodge.

This was the environment the Knicks found themselves in last night.