Both teams are 0-2, but Orlando’s defensive struggles and Paolo Banchero’s absence put the pressure on Franz Wagner.
The Knicks and Magic both enter 0-2, with New York 23rd and Orlando 26th in the power index, making this an early chance to stop the slide. New York is scoring 101.5 points per game and allowing 106.5; Orlando scores 109 but gives up 123.5, a defensive gap the Knicks must turn into points. With Paolo Banchero sidelined after opening the season with 49 points and 15 assists in two games, Franz Wagner’s 40 points and 10 assists become even more important to Orlando’s attack. The frontcourt matchup could decide it: Karl-Anthony Towns has 41 points and 22 rebounds, while Wendell Carter Jr. has 42 points on 16-for-19 shooting, and New York needs to keep that efficiency from carrying over.