Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, two core Knicks, were benched for at least most of the fourth quarter in Wednesday’s 124-107 loss to the Magic.
Hart didn’t play at all in the remaining interval, the second recreation in a row he collected zero minutes in the fourth quarter. Bridges logged just one minute in the fourth quarter, and couldn’t clarify the motive.
“I’m not sure,” said Bridges, who scored a season-low six factors on 3 of 9 taking pictures.
Josh Hart and Franz Wagner chase a unfastened ball during the second half of the Knicks’ 124-107 blowout loss to the Magic at the Garden on Nov. 12, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR NY POST
Hart, who had been enjoying higher after a bumpy begin to the season, appeared annoyed after the recreation.
Landry Shamet, Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson all performed more minutes in the fourth quarter Wednesday than either Hart or Bridges.
“I got my own stuff,” Hart, who scored 10 factors in 18 minutes with three turnovers, said when requested about the obvious harm to teammate Jalen Brunson.
Regardless of the minutes distribution, there will be huge alterations if Brunson is damage. The level guard turned his proper ankle in rubbish time, a growth that leaves coach Mike Brown under the microscope for enjoying his star when the recreation’s end result was settled.
Before tip-off, Brown said he’d grown more snug with his rotation.
“I was all over the map [with my rotations earlier in the season]. Because I was all over the map, the players were all over the map,” Brown said. “And after getting some practices in, getting some games under our belt, showing the guys, ‘Hey this is what we should be looking at, we have a little bit of a rhythm.’ ”
Mikal Bridges goes up for a layup during the second half of the Knicks’ blowout loss to the Magic. JASON SZENES FOR NY POST
The rhythm stopped alongside with the Knicks’ five-game profitable streak, as Brown’s squad was outmuscled by the bodily Magic.
Brown altered his rotation — significantly by benching Bridges — and he’ll have to change it further if Brunson is out.
Mitchell Robinson returned from a one-game absence because of load administration but wasn’t a constructive issue in a recreation dominated by Orlando’s dimension and energy.
He still collected 5 offensive rebounds but the Knicks were outscored by 11 factors in Robinson’s 17 minutes.
Robinson is still enjoying in three-minute bursts as half of his load administration plan. He also won’t play in both video games of a back-to-back set.
The Knicks next play a home-and-away set against the Heat — beginning Friday at MSG. Miami beat New York earlier this season.
“I don’t think we responded properly [to Orlando’s physicality],” Hart said. “So, learned a lesson. We have a tough, physical opponent on Friday. And we got to respond.”
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