Magic Send Knicks to 20th Loss

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The New York Sun

ORLANDO, Fla. – Grant Hill made several key baskets and scored 26 points, and Steve Francis had 17 points and six assists as the Orlando Magic beat the Knicks 105-95 last night.


The Magic spoiled a strong performance from New York’s Eddy Curry. Playing in just his second game after missing four straight with a sprained ankle, Curry had a season-high 29 points and nine rebounds. However, he left in the fourth quarter with a strained right calf.


With 27 offensive rebounds, the Knicks had plenty of chances to score, but shot just 36%. New York’s reserves outscored its starters 75-20 – helped by Curry and 24 points from Jamal Crawford. Stephon Marbury had five points, shooting 0-for-7 from the field.


The Knicks fell to 2-11 this month and 7-20 overall. They didn’t make a fourth-quarter field goal until 8:14 was left in the period, and only Curry kept them in it at first, making two free throws, a layup, and a three-point play on consecutive possessions.


Crawford’s 3-pointer got New York within six points with 2:11 left, but Hill made two free throws a minute later to ice the game.


Hill scored 12 points in a span of nearly nine minutes in the third quarter to build Orlando’s lead to 76-65 with 3:15 left in the period.


All five Magic starters scored in double figures. DeShawn Stevenson had 14 points, Tony Battie had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Dwight Howard had 11 points and eight rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.


The Magic scored 11 fast-break points and 20 in the paint in the first quarter, opening a 28-18 lead after the Knicks shot 26%. But Curry brought New York back in the second, scoring 14 of his 16 first-half points. He blocked Howard’s layup attempt and ran the court for a layup feed from Marbury that drew New York to 41-39 with 3:51 left in the half.


Howard responded with two free throws and a spin dunk around Curry to help the Magic take a 52-46 halftime lead.


Knicks starter Quentin Richardson left with 6:05 remaining in the half because of back spasms. He had six points and six rebounds in 16 minutes.


Before the game, the Knicks activated forward David Lee and placed Qyntel Woods on the inactive list. Lee ended up starting, giving the Knicks their 18th different lineup of the season. He was scoreless in 14 minutes.


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