Basketball: Knicks beat Magic 91-84 to open MLK slate of NBA games

R.J. Barrett scored 22 points and had 10 rebounds, and Julius Randle added 21 points and 17 rebounds to lead the New York Knicks to a 91-84 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday. Elfrid Payton chipped in with 12 points and rookie guard Immanuel Quickley added 11 for the Knicks, who improved to 7-8 with their second straight win Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, which lost its sixth in a row and fell to 6-8. Perhaps the early start -- it was noon tip-off -- affected both teams because New York led 47-38 after a first half in which the Knicks only made 37 per cent of their shots and Orlando hit 32 per cent. New York’s lead grew to 68-54 after Obi Toppin’s alley-oop jam one minute into the fourth. The Magic rallied and went ahead 81-80 when Ross’ 28-foot heave beat an expiring shot clock. The lead lasted for all of eight seconds, as Randle tied the game with a free throw. On New York’s ensuing possession, Randle hit a floater during a run in which the Knicks scored nine straight points.