ORLANDO, Fla. — The Knicks aren’t the same with Kristaps Porzingis in a blue checkered suit sitting on the bench. No unicorn Wednesday night meant no victory.
In this season’s first game without “The Franchise’’ the Knicks hung around for three quarters behind Tim Hardaway’s 26 points but ultimately couldn’t deliver a third straight comeback win in falling to the surprisingly prosperous Magic 112-99 at Amway Center.
Michael Beasley started at power forward in place of Porzingis and was a non-factor (four points in 20 minutes).
Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the sluggish Knicks needed a pick-me-up at the outset but Beasley was awful early.