Knicks' Mike Brown Says Magic 'Kicked Our Ass' in 1st Home Loss of Season

The New York Knicks were bound to lose a home game at some point this season, and head coach Mike Brown didn't hold back after Wednesday's 124-107 defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic.

"They kicked our ass; it's as simple as that," he told reporters. "… They came out with a physical presence and we didn't handle it well."

New York is now 7-1 at Madison Square Garden, which is notable since it is 0-3 on the road. There are more road games than home games coming up, so it will have to figure out how to win away from Madison Square Garden if it is going to compete for a top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Wednesday's game was one to forget for the Knicks, as Orlando enjoyed a 49-37 advantage on the boards and held the home team to 30.6 percent shooting from three-point range. The physicality advantage Brown mentioned helped the visitors control the glass and contest New York's shots, which proved to be the difference.

It was an impressive win for the Magic considering star player Paolo Banchero played just 12 minutes before exiting.

Franz Wagner (28 points, nine rebounds and four assists) and Desmond Bane (22 points, eight assists and six rebounds) picked up the slack. Anthony Black also added 17 points off the bench.

Jalen Brunson did what he could with 31 points, but no other member of the Knicks scored more than 15 points.

New York won't have to wait long to bounce back, as it hosts the Miami Heat on Friday in yet another home game. However, it then faces the Heat again Monday in the first of five consecutive road games where its winless mark will be put to the test.

It will have to be better than it was Wednesday if it wants to avoid falling in the Eastern Conference standings.