The Orlando Magic were already 0-2 against the New York Knicks on Friday night as the second of a back-to-back at the Kia Center in Florida. Now down 0-3 with New York fans filling the Magic’s home court with chants of “Let’s Go Knicks” the boys from the Big Apple have clinched a tiebreaker in postseason seeding over Orlando.

After a physical contest on Thursday in a heartbreaking loss to the Miami Heat where the Magic missed 19 consecutive three-pointers, they hit the first four (three from point guard Jalen Suggs and the first of the season from center Goga Bitadze).

Bitadze finished with his 12th double-double on the season recording 14 points and 10 rebounds.

These connections beyond the arc came as both players consecutively went on 11-point runs once Suggs opened the game’s scoring with a 24-footer. The Magic led 29-26 with the other seven points coming from center Jonathon Issac.

However, with star Jalen Brunson pouring in 14 points in the game’s first 24 minutes, the Knicks were able to tie it up 54 a piece at the half. Center Karl Anthony Towns poured in six of his 16 points and eight rebounds in the second quarter while providing an intimidating presence all night in the paint along with Josh Hart. Hart poured in 23 points and 13 rebounds as well as two blocked shots.

The Knicks pulled away when Suggs picked up his fifth foul with around 5:30 left in the 3rd quarter and the game tied at 63. Heading into the 4th quarter up 76-68, New York flew off into a 9-2 run in the first 1:30 and never looked back. They scored 31 points in the final quarter — as many as Orlando scored in the back half of the contest.

Brunson finished with 26 points and nine assists. As the Knicks outshot the Magic 53.3% to 36.8%. While the Magic held New York to the fewest three-point attempts in an NBA game this season, the Knicks took 34 free throw shots (missing 10 of them) compared to the Magic’s 12 (missing only one).

The good news is the upgrade of Banchero’s status to “return to competition reconditioning”. It seems the prospect of his return has gone from weeks to days. Could we see him return for the final game of the current home stretch hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday? Will it be on the road against the Detroit Pistons on New Year’s Day or the Toronto Raptors in Canada on January 3rd? Or even beyond? The Magic clearly need him back sooner than later to finish strong into the All-Star break.