Preview: Nikola Vucevic leads surging Magic into showdown with Knicks

Published Feb. 26, 2019 10:39 p.m. ET

TV: FOX Sports Florida

TIME: Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m.

STREAM IT LIVE ON THE FOX SPORTS APP

Orlando Magic (28-33, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (12-48, 15th in the Eastern Conference)

BOTTOM LINE

Eastern Conference foes New York and Orlando meet at the Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks have gone 5-24 in home games. New York is 5-29 in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Magic are 20-16 in Eastern Conference play. Orlando is last in the NBA scoring 42.4 points in the paint per game. The Magic defeated the Knicks 131-117 in their last meeting on Nov. 18. Aaron Gordon led Orlando with 31 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. paced New York scoring 32 points.

TOP PERFORMERS

Dennis Smith Jr. is shooting 43.7 percent and averaging 16.1 points. Kevin Knox has averaged 14.4 points and added 5.4 rebounds while shooting 33.6 percent over the last 10 games for New York.

Nikola Vucevic has shot 52.3 percent and is averaging 20.6 points for the Magic. D.J. Augustin has averaged 6.1 assists and scored 10.5 points over the last 10 games for Orlando.

LAST 10 GAMES

Magic: 8-2, averaging 114.7 points, 49 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.9 points on 41.6 percent shooting.

Knicks: 2-8, averaging 103.2 points, 47.1 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 6.3 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.4 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.5 points on 44.2 percent shooting.

Knicks Injuries: DeAndre Jordan: out (ankle), Frank Ntilikina: out (groin).

Magic Injuries: Mo Bamba: out (left tibia fracture), Markelle Fultz: out (shoulder/wrist), Isaiah Briscoe: out (concussion protocol), Timofey Mozgov: out (knee).