Orlando Magic Beat Knicks to Drop New York to 0-3
The New York Knicks fell to 0-3 on the season after losing 111-102 to the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
The Fourth-Quarter Collapse
Holding an eight-point lead with 8:40 remaining in the game, the defending NBA champions surrendered a 33-16 closing run to the Magic. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 28 points on 12-of-28 shooting, while OG Anunoby added 22 points. Despite the offensive output from the starters, New York struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just nine of 38 three-point attempts. Orlando capitalized by sinking 18 three-pointers and getting 47 points from its bench compared to just 11 points for the New York reserves.
Knicks First Defending Champions to Start 0-3 Since 2011
With the defeat, the Knicks became the first defending NBA champions to start a season 0-3 since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks. That Mavericks squad opened their title defense by losing to the Miami Heat—the team they had beaten in the Finals six months prior—before dropping subsequent games to Denver and Oklahoma City.
"Our crap stinksIt does.And we're the only onesthat can do something about it." –– Mike Brown on 0-3 Knicks pic.twitter.com/R6pdyFkB0F
The Magic entered the matchup with an 0-2 record and played without Paolo Banchero, who sat out due to an ankle injury alongside teammate Jonathan Isaac. Franz Wagner paced Orlando with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, while Tristan da Silva contributed 19 points.
Early Season Struggles
The loss continues a trend of tight defeats for New York to begin the campaign. The team previously lost by six points to Philadelphia and by four points to Boston, where Jayson Tatum hit a decisive three-pointer with 30.3 seconds remaining.
Franz Wagner dropped 21 POINTS in Q4 🔥He finished with 23 PTS, 13 REB (career-high), and 9 AST to lead the @OrlandoMagic to victory on the road! pic.twitter.com/yFwG0wekJ3
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"Maybe some miscommunications, transition opportunities, some fouls"–– OG Anunoby to @alanhahn on how Franz Wagner went from 2 points first three quarters combined to 21 in the fourth as Magic score 40 that quarter to come back and beat the Knicks pic.twitter.com/0tATURcK1P
The reigning NBA Champion New York Knicks have started the season 0-3. They’ve lost against the 76ers, the Celtics, and now the Magic without Paolo Banchero after allowing Orlando a 30-9 run in less than 9 minutes of play. pic.twitter.com/4s9QDwDcbI
FINAL: #Magic 111, Knicks 102Orlando gets its first win of the regular season and first under new coach Sean Sweeney thanks to a huge fourth quarter from Franz Wagner. But will need to wait and see about Jalen Suggs.