Knicks vs. Magic Preview: How, Who to Watch in MLK Day Matinee

The New York Knicks are working on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as they'll face the Orlando Magic at home.

The New York Knicks have a chance for more holiday magic on Monday afternoon.

New York gets back to work on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, looking to create another winning streak when it faces the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden. Monday's matinee will tip off a stretch of 12 MSG showings over the Knicks' next 14 dates, headlined by this week's four-game homestand that also welcomes in Houston, Washington, and Toronto.

Entering Monday's game, the Knicks have won four in a row at MSG, the most recent showing being a 112-84 shellacking of the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. The Knicks went on to split a two-game road trip, falling in Dallas before handling business against the severely shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. Julius Randle had a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double while Miles McBride scored a career-best 19 in place of the injured Jalen Brunson (calf). 

The Magic have fallen back to Earth since their scorching start: since a 117-108 win over the Knicks on Dec. 29, Orlando has dropped six of its last eight, including each of its last three. This is the second of four meetings between the Knicks and Magic this season with a return to Central Florida currently scheduled for Feb. 14.

What: Orlando Magic (21-18) @ New York Knicks (23-16) 

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

When/Watch: Monday, 3 p.m. ET, MSG

Who's Favored: NYK -7

Keep An Eye On: Malachi Flynn

Time will tell if Jalen Brunson is available for the Knicks on Monday, as the star point guard is listed as questionable with a calf contusion. McBride's efforts helped weather the storm on Saturday in Memphis, which also afforded an extended opportunity for Flynn, one of the accompanying pieces of the deal that acquired OG Anunoby. Granted a Knicks career-best 10 minutes, Flynn earned nine points on 4-of-5 shooting. While Flynn's time with the Knicks got off to a slow start thanks to an ankle injury, it'll be interesting to see if he can forge a spot for himself in the New York rotation with the second half of the season looming.

Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Floridian to Watch: Paolo Banchero

Since Franz Wagner went down with an ankle on Jan. 3 against Sacramento, Banchero has essentially been a one-man show. There have been flashes of brilliance packed in there, such as a 32-point, 11-assist, 10-rebound triple-double in the immediate follow-up against defending champion Denver, but the Magic will need the reigning Rookie of the Year to step it up even further if they're going to get back in the hunt for a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference (two games out entering Monday play). Banchero hasn't been immune to the New Year's cesspool that has swallowed Orlando basketball: during this active three-game losing streak, Banchero is shooting just under 39 percent from the field including a brutal 13.3 percent success rate from three-point range.

They Said It

“I knew if we wanted to win, I’d have to be a big part of the scoring. Jalen (Burnson) obviously scores a lot of points for us. I couldn’t put on my bag, but I felt like I could get the team an extra boost.”-Miles McBride on contributing to the Knicks' scoring (h/t Stefan Bondy, New York Post)

Relief Swisher: McBride Rises in Knicks' Latest Win

Prediction

Saturday's initial struggle against the Grizzlies shows that there are few, if any, certainties in the modern NBA. On paper, the Knicks should be fully capable of handling business against the reeling Magic, but don't expect them to make things easy on themselves, especially with Brunson potentially ailing.

Knicks 114, Magic 110