Nikola Vucevic turns in another double-double, Magic fall on road to Knicks

NEW YORK (AP) — R.J. Barrett scored 22 points and had 10 rebounds, and Julius Randle added 21 points and 17 rebounds to lead the New York Knicks to a 91-84 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday.

Elfrid Payton chipped in with 12 points and rookie guard Immanuel Quickley added 11 for the Knicks, who improved to 7-8 with their second straight win

Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, which lost its sixth in a row and fell to 6-8. Aaron Gordon had 18 points and 17 rebounds while Terrence Ross added 19 points for the Magic.

Perhaps the early start — it was noon tip-off — affected both teams because New York led 47-38 after a first half in which the Knicks only made 37 percent of their shots and Orlando hit 32 percent.

New York’s lead grew to 68-54 after Obi Toppin’s alley-oop jam one minute into the fourth.

The Magic rallied and went ahead 81-80 when Ross’ 28-foot heave beat an expiring shot clock. The lead lasted for all of eight seconds, as Randle tied the game with a free throw.

On New York’s ensuing possession, Randle hit a floater during a run in which the Knicks scored nine straight points.

TIP-INS

Magic: The matinee marked a homecoming of sorts for Cole Anthony, the 15th overall pick in the draft. Anthony, who grew up in New York City and is the son of former Knick and current TNT analyst Greg Anthony, played his first game as a professional at Madison Square Garden. The 20-year old entered the game averaging 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He finished with six points, five rebounds and one assist.

“I think it’s what he wants,” Orlando coach Steve Clifford said before the game. “He’s a confident young guy. He’s handling it well.”

Knicks: Fourteen games is a small sample size, but New York coach Tom Thibodeau is pleased with the play of third-year forward Kevin Knox, who came into the game shooting 43 percent from the field and averaging 7.8 points per game coming off the bench. Knox, who came into the season shooting 33.7 percent from 3, is connecting at a 44.2 percent clip so far in 2020-21.

“I thought when he took good shots, he made them or they were in-and-out,” was how Thibodeau assessed Knox’s improved play. “He’s allowing the game to come to him. He put a lot of time into shooting this summer. He can do more than spot up.”