Although he was out Monday night, the All-NBA Defense guard helped spark his team to dominate the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Monday’s loss marked the Knicks’ third straight defeat, exposing the fragility of their already short rotation.

In spite of the Magic entering the matchup without a player who is averaging double-digit points on the season, they continued to play the Knicks tough. The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with the Magic ahead, 53-51 after a last second Jett Howard three to take the lead.

New York faces the Orlando Magic after Karl-Anthony Towns scored 44 points in the New York Knicks' 139-126 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

With Karl-Anthony Towns relegated a spectator due to a thumb injury, the Knicks' Villanova contingent had another sterling evening at Wells Fargo Center, as former Villanova Wildcats Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart each rose to the occasion in a 125-119 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

There’s a reason “Let’s Go Knicks” chants echoed through Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night. The arena, just 25 miles from Villanova University, felt like a home game for New York, fueled by fans embracing the local legends who once dominated the college scene.