Game Day Preview: Magic at Knicks, No Banchero and No Excuses

Quick answer: the Knicks (0-2) host the Orlando Magic (0-2) tonight at Madison Square Garden, tip at 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT. Orlando is without Paolo Banchero (right ankle sprain), per the NBA's official injury report, and Jose Alvarado is questionable for New York. Defending champs, home floor, the other team's best player in street clothes. This is one we have to get.

Key stats

• Knicks: 101.5 points per game on 41% shooting and 37% from three (27-of-73) through two losses, per ESPN.
• Magic: 109.0 points per game, but just 27% from three (21-of-79) and 18 turnovers a game, per ESPN.
• Paint: Orlando scored 50 and 54 in the paint in its two games. The Knicks had 44 against Philly and only 30 in Boston.
• Cat: 20.5 points and 11.0 rebounds a game on 68.2% shooting.
• Mikal Bridges: 2-of-16 from the field and 0-of-7 from three through two games.

Orlando's form

Both Magic losses came at home: 132-125 to Atlanta, then 115-93 to Minnesota, a night they went 8-of-39 from deep. Banchero was averaging 24.5 points and 7.5 assists, so losing him strips out their main creator. Jonathan Isaac, Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson are out too, and Anthony Black is questionable.

What's left can still hurt you. Franz Wagner scored 22 and 18. Wendell Carter Jr. went for 22 and 20 on a ridiculous 16-of-19 shooting. Desmond Bane is 4-of-19 from three, and I don't love catching a shooter that good when he's due.

The matchup to watch: Cat vs. Wendell Carter Jr.

Carter has lived in the paint, and Orlando leans on it. This is exactly why I love Cat at the five in the five-out look: drag Carter out to the arc on one end, then beat him on the glass on the other. Towns has double-digit boards in both games. Make a 27% three-point team without Banchero beat you from outside and I'll take my chances.

The other thing I'll be yelling at the TV about is balance. In Boston the Knicks hit 16 threes but scored only 30 in the paint and lost by four. Threes are great; threes plus a paint number back in the 40s wins games.

Bridges needs one to drop

I'm a Bridges-and-OG-on-the-wings guy all day, and OG gave us 20 points and 10 boards in Boston. But Mikal has 4 points in two games. Against a Magic frontline missing Isaac, this is the night to get downhill early and see a couple go in. Miles McBride's 6-of-8 from three in Boston was the bright spot off the bench; more of that, please.

How to watch

Tip is 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT at Madison Square Garden. ESPN lists NBA League Pass for out-of-market viewers. For local TV, check your listings.

Official injury report

• Magic: Paolo Banchero (right low-grade high ankle sprain) is out. Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury management), Izaiyah Nelson (left ankle injury recovery) and Noah Penda (right partially torn hamstring) are out. Anthony Black (right ankle sprain) is questionable.
• Knicks: Jose Alvarado (left ankle sprain) is questionable.

That's from the NBA's official injury report as of 11:30 AM ET on Oct. 25. Status can change before tip.

Catch up on Friday's loss in Boston in the latest Morning After: https://knicks365.com/blog/knicks-celtics-recap-tatum-clutch-0-2-start

My verdict

Two 0-2 teams at the Garden, and only one of them has its best player. No excuses tonight. Win the paint, win the glass, get Mikal going, and get the champs on the board.