LAS VEGAS — David Copperfield’s face is plastered across the street in front of his nightly magic shows at MGM Grand. But the Knicks made the magic disappear from Las Vegas.
Their trip to Sin City is extended as they routed Orlando 132-120 at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday afternoon to advance to the NBA Cup Finals.
The reigning Clutch Player of the Year, Jalen Brunson, is often at his best in playoff-style environments or elimination games.
Saturday was the latest example.
He sounded sick during media day Friday, his voice cracking as he spoke.
A day later, it was the Magic who had had enough of watching him dominate them.
Brunson scored a season-high 40 points on stellar 16-for-27 shooting from the field.
He also added eight assists.
As the Knicks regained control of the game late in the third quarter, Brunson dropped Anthony Black — who had told The Post he planned to “get in his jersey and see how he reacts” on Friday — before drilling a 3-pointer.
The neutral audience – with many empty seats – did not exactly create an exciting atmosphere.
But the play provoked the loudest reaction of the game.
Later in the fourth quarter, MVP chants — usually reserved for Madison Square Garden — emerged as he hit free throws with 6:56 left in the game.
Jalen Suggs – known more for his defense than his offense – hurt the Knicks early, scoring 25 points in the first half. But he then faded, scoring just one point in the second half.
Paolo Banchero’s final numbers look good, but he missed all six threes he took and was a weak spot for the Magic.
Franz Wagner’s absence was also notable for the Magic; he suffered a high ankle sprain last week during the previous meeting between the two teams.
Without him, the Knicks had too much firepower.
He was injured in the first quarter of that game, so both Knicks wins over the Magic are now sidelined with him after he killed them the first two matchups.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby scored 29 and 24 points respectively.
Anunoby was a threat defensively with three steals.
Josh Hart’s red-hot three-point shooting of late has been lacking, missing all four three-pointers he took.
But he typically found other ways to impact the game, finishing with six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Since Hart came into the starting lineup, that grouping has been one of the best units in the league. Saturday it became clear why.
Off the bench, Tyler Kolek was a team-best plus-17.
Mitchell Robinson had nine rebounds and four blocks.
After being bullied in the first two games with the Magic this year, the Knicks have now defeated them twice in three games, resulting in their elimination from the season tournament on Saturday.
Desmond Bane, who has emerged as a Knicks foe this year, tried to set the tone physically by knocking over several players.
The Knicks, however, were not impressed.
This won’t live up to the finale-or-bust expectations they’ve set for themselves.
That will have to happen in the spring.
But in this NBA Cup, they were the last team standing in the East.
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