Knicks win NBA Cup group; Magic advance, too, despite loss

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the fourth quarter of  an NBA Cup game against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Karl-Anthony Towns posted team-high totals of 23 points and 15 rebounds on Tuesday as the host New York Knicks clinched the NBA Cup’s East Group A title and an automatic bid to the quarterfinals with a 121-106 win over the Orlando Magic.

Josh Hart amassed 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Knicks, who finished 4-0 in Group A play and will host the East Group C champion Atlanta Hawks in a quarterfinal matchup next week.

Jalen Brunson had 21 points, Mikal Bridges scored 19 points and OG Anunoby and Miles McBride each added 18 points as New York won for the eighth time in 10 games overall.

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Franz Wagner scored 30 points and Moritz Wagner registered 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic (3-1 in Group A play), whose late comeback bid made the final score respectable and ensured them of the Eastern Conference’s wild-card berth. Orlando will visit the East Group B champion Milwaukee Bucks next week.

The Magic were assured of winning the tiebreaker over the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics — the second-place finishers in Group B and Group C, respectively — as long as they didn’t lose by 37 points. Orlando trailed by 37 late in the third before ending the game on a 40-18 run.

Jalen Suggs scored 14 points and Cole Anthony had 10 points off the bench for the Magic.

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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Franz Wagner combined for all of the Magic’s points in a game-opening 14-6 run before the Knicks began taking control by scoring the next 11 points. Towns’ layup put New York ahead for good at 15-14 with 5:46 left in the first period.

Cameron Payne scored the final five points of the quarter to extend the Knicks’ lead to 36-27. New York went up by double digits for good at 41-29 on McBride’s 3-pointer with 10:45 remaining in the half and extended the lead to the pivotal 37-point barrier at 103-66 when Bridges sank a 3-pointer with 2:54 left in the third.

The Magic began the comeback that saved their wild-card hopes by scoring nine of the final 12 points of the third. The Knicks led by 34 points early in the fourth before the Magic inched back. The visitors scored 16 of the final 18 points to remove any drama from the wild-card bid. –Field Level Media