Overview
- Sunday night’s 111-102 loss to the Orlando Magic dropped New York to 0-3 to open the season, a rare start for a defending champion.
- The Knicks shot just 9-of-38 from three-point range in the Orlando game and made 17-of-24 free throws, a performance that stalled their offense.
- Jalen Brunson led New York with 28 points while Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby added 22 points each but the scoring could not overcome the shooting slump.
- Off-court noise has grown after reports that owner James Dolan sent a disputed email about ring distribution and some assistant coaches did not receive rings on opening night.
- The start matches a troubling mark not seen since 2011, but commentators note the team’s difficult early schedule, Paolo Banchero’s expected four-to-six week absence in Orlando, and the regular season’s length as reasons for measured patience.