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Knicks Will Face Different-Looking Magic Team

The Orlando Magic look a little bit different when compared to their most recent game against the New York Knicks.

Jeremy Brener

Dec 3, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks to pass the ball against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and forward Franz Wagner (22) and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Dec 3, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks to pass the ball against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and forward Franz Wagner (22) and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Knicks are getting ready to come into the Kia Center to take on the Orlando Magic, a team that looks a little different since their last meeting.

The Magic played the Knicks back on Dec. 3 in Madison Square Garden in a game that determined the winner of East Group A in the Emirates NBA Cup. The Knicks came out on top, but the Magic finished as the Eastern Conference Wild Card thanks to their strong point differential compared to the other 3-1 teams.

However, two games after the Magic played the Knicks in New York, Orlando forward Franz Wagner tore his oblique, which is set to sideline him for several weeks. It's the same injury Paolo Banchero suffered back on Oct. 31, which he has yet to return from.

Even though the Magic have lost Wagner, they have done their best to cover for his absence. In the two games the Magic have played since losing their potential All-Star forward, they upset the Phoenix Suns at home in a comeback win in the fourth quarter and they nearly pulled off a win on the road against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to punch a ticket to Las Vegas.

The Magic were unable to pull out the win, so they got back home to face the Knicks at home. The Magic are a team that plays well at home, but with tickets only being released on Wednesday, the Knicks could walk into a calmer environment than what the Kia Center has the potential to be. Perhaps Knicks fans will flood the seats to make it a pseudo-home game for New York.

Either way, the Knicks are in for a challenge no matter how it looks on paper.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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