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Knicks vs. Magic Summer League Preview: How & Who to Watch, Betting Odds, More

The New York Knicks look to grab their first Las Vegas Summer League win against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.

Jeremy Brener

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The Orlando Magic and New York Knicks each seek their first win in the Las Vegas Summer League tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Wednesday's game will feature two teams have very different rosters coming into Summer League. New York came into the summer without any picks from this past draft. The most recognizable name on the Knicks' Summer League roster is possibly Isaiah Roby, who played for the San Antonio Spurs last season and has played in over 100 NBA contests during his career.

Meanwhile, Orlando is led by a pair of lottery picks in first-round selections Anthony Black from Arkansas (sixth overall) and selection Jett Howard from Michigan (11th overall). Those two, along with second-year pro and Howard's fellow Michigan alum Caleb Houstan, have been leading the way for Orlando through the first two games.

What: New York Knicks (0-2) vs. Orlando Magic (0-2)

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV

When/Watch: Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Who's Favored: ORL -1.5

Keep An Eye On: Jaylen Martin

By now, perhaps enough has been written about the Knicks' supposed big-name July attractions struggling to either live up to their supposed potential (i.e. Trevor Keels, Isaiah Roby) or struggling to take the floor entirely (i.e. DaQuan Jeffries, Jacob Toppin). 

Beyond those names, the 19-year-old Martin is perhaps best poised to either take on a fringe role in Manhattan or show up in Wesstchester's starting five. Working on a two-way contract, Martin recovered from a slow start on Saturday against Philadelphia to earn 15 points, six assists, and two steals the day after against Brooklyn. 

Facing off against first-round competitors on Wednesday night, Martin has a big chance to leave a lasting impression and keep his momentum alive. 

Magic to Watch: Kai Sotto

Beyond the Magic's high-profile attractions, one of the most intriguing Central Floridian prospects hails from the Philippines. The Knicks are familiar with the efforts of Sotto, a two-time MVP in Australia's NBL, having granted him a pre-draft workout leading to a mostly quiet night in Brooklyn that primarily yielded Keels and a budget for Jalen Brunson.

Sotto, however, has yet to take the floor in Las Vegas, much to the consternation of Magic fans hoping to see some hidden talents. Orlando management claims that they want to get Sotto into a game, and a big opportunity to do that could come if they start to run away in Wednesday's contest. 

Prediction

Once again, the Knicks are facing off against a team using the Summer League for its intended purpose: developing young talents that they hope will make a difference earlier in the summer. That should spell summer doom for a Knicks group more or less playing out the stretch and counting down the days until their veterans report to camp and allow the Magic to inch closer to showcase glory.

Magic 89, Knicks 77

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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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