Knicks 108, Magic 86: Shorthanded New York Throttles Listless Orlando

The Orlando Magic, who had beaten the New York Knicks in 7 of their previous 8 games, figured to have the advantage going into Wednesday night's game, as the Knicks went into the game without key starters Jeremy Lin (sore knee) and Amar'e Stoudemire (bulging back disc). The Knicks, thanks to an incredible 50-13 run during a 14-minute stretch spanning the second and third quarters on their way to a 39 point lead, cruised from that point on in the dominant 108-86 victory. They were the much more energetic team throughout the game, and dominated the stat sheet. The Knicks shot 50.6% from the field; outscored the Magic, 36-27, on three-pointers; smashed the Magic on the boards, 49-34; and forced 19 Magic turnovers.

Carmelo Anthony, nursing a sore groin, posted an atypically efficient line, shooting 60 percent from the field en route to 25 points. Anthony added 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Rookie guard Iman Shumpert posted a career-high 25 points, and added 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Sharpshooting reserve Steve Novak scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half, and Baron Davis, starting for Lin, scored 11 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Jameer Nelson led a futile Magic effort with 17 points and 4 assists. Reserve J.J. Redick scored all of his 15 points in the second half. Dwight Howard had a quiet 12 points and 5 rebounds, and Ryan Anderson was no factor at all, as he was shutout in the first half and wound up with just three points with two rebounds in 16 minutes. The three points was Anderson's second lowest output of the season.

The Magic actually started the game out on a promising note, as 4 of the 5 Magic starters scored to help the Magic to a 14-7 lead four minutes into the game. The Knicks went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 14 after a Shumpert three pointer, but the Magic went on a 10-2 run and had their largest lead of the game at 24-16 after a Nelson layup. The Magic led 29-25 after one with Nelson having a terrific quarter with 11 points on 5 of 8 shooting along with 3 assists. The Magic shot 50 percent for the quarter and commited just two turnovers.

The Magic had their last lead of the game at 34-33 after a Chris Duhon layup with 6:58 remaining in the half. A Novak three gave the Knicks the lead for good on their next possession at 36-34. The Magic were still within two points at 40-38 after a Howard layup with 4:39 remaining. Disaster then struck the Magic, as the Knicks ended the first half on a 17-3 run, with Davis scoring 7 points and Novak nailing a three at the buzzer. The Knicks outscored the Magic 32-12 in the second, shooting 52% and holding the Magic to 25 percent shooting. Anthony and Novak each scored 13 first-half points, while Nelson scored 14 to lead the Magic.

Any thoughts of the Magic getting back in the game in the third quarter were quickly put to rest by New York. With the score 67-49 Knicks after a Howard bucket, the Knicks went on a 21-0 tear to lead 88-49. Shumpert scored 10 points during that Knicks' run. The Knicks had their largest lead of the game 90-51 after a Tyson Chandler tip-in. This completed an embarrassing 50-13 run by the Knicks that started at the 3:58 point of the second quarter and lasted until 1:52 remaining in the third, a 14 minute span. Redick then scored the next eight points, but the Knicks held a commanding 90-59 lead after three, shooting a blistering 67 percent in the quarter.

The fourth quarter was garbage time, to say the least, with the Magic down 31 points. Even though the Magic outscored the Knicks 15-3 to open the quarter to complete a 23-3 run, they still trailed 93-74 with 7:52 remaining. A Shumpert three-point play put the Knicks back up over 20 points for the remainder of the game. Von Wafer, Ish Smith, and DeAndre Liggins each saw action in the final five minutes of the game for the Magic, with Liggins scoring 4 points and adding an assist.

Other game notes:

-Magic reserve Earl Clark went scoreless in 20 minutes, but grabbed 5 boards along with a steal and block.

-Anderson, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu combined for just 13 points on 5 of 16 shooting.

-Davis added 10 points and 6 rebounds off the Magic bench, but shot just 4 of 10.

-Knicks' center Chandler added 9 points and 9 rebounds.

-Poor free throw shooting plagued the Magic once again, as they shot 15-of-26 (58 percent) from the charity stripe.

-The Magic failed to outscore the opposition on three pointers for the eighth time this season, and have lost all eight games.