The New York Knicks (18-7) secured their fifth straight win and their ninth in their last ten, with a 132-120 victory over the Orlando Magic (15-11) on December 14.
Here are the key stats and the top performers of the game:
BEST PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Jalen Brunson NYK PG 40 PTS | 4 REB | 8 AST | 57.8 FPS
Brunson has been red-hot lately, finishing with a season-high today and averaging 34.5 points over his last four games. He’s been one of the best scorers in the league this season, ranking 6th in total points scored.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE:
Karl Anthony Towns NYK C 29 PTS | 8 REB | 1 BLK | 47.6 FPS
Towns finished with an efficient 9-for-11 shooting from the field and 9-for-10 from the line to record his eighth 25-point game of the season.
SCORING MACHINES:
Jalen Suggs ORL PG 26 PTS | 2 REB | 7 AST | 36.9 FPS
Suggs started strong, erupting for 25 first-half points. But he slowed down after and also left the game early with an injury. Still, he finished with his fourth 20-point performance in his last five games and also added his best playmaking output this month.
OG Anunoby NYK PF 24 PTS | 6 REB | 3 STL | 45.2 FPS
OG delivered on offense, shooting 60% from the field and knocking down 3 triples for his sixth 20-point outing this season. Defensively, he was just as impactful, recording his third straight game with at least 6 rebounds and 3 stocks.
STAT SPECIALIST:
Josh Hart NYK SG 12 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST | 37.2 FPS
Hart missed all four of his shots from three, but he still finished with his fifth double-digit scoring game in his last six. He also continues to make a big impact in other areas, posting at least 10 RA in ten consecutive games.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT:
Wendell Carter Jr. ORL C 14 PTS | 6 REB | 4 STL | 36.2 FPS
WCJ finished with a season-high in steals while maintaining his usual contributions. He’s averaging 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in six games this month.
THE SHARPSHOOTER:
Desmond Bane ORL SG 18 PTS | 2-4 3PT | 7 AST | 35.7 FPS
Bane has shot 10-for-17 from deep over his last three games and averaged 23.7 points despite struggling with foul troubles.
THE X-FACTOR:
Mitchell Robinson NYK C 5 PTS | 9 REB | 4 BLK | 27.8 FPS
Mitch led the team in rebounding for the fourth time this season. He’s averaging 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 stocks in his last four.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Aaron Black ORL PG 12 PTS | 8 REB | 4 AST | 32.6 FPS
Black continued to struggle on offense, but made up for it with a consistent all-around performance, scoring 10+ points in four-straight games and recording at least 7 rebounds in five of his last six games.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE GAME:
Paolo Banchero ORL PF 25 PTS | 0-7 3PT | 5 TO
Banchero recorded his fifth 25-point game of the season, but his struggles were hard to ignore, finishing with his worst shooting performance of the season and his second game with at least 5 turnovers.
