Knicks fall to Magic, historically start season 0-3 as defending champions

The New York Knicks lost 111-102 to the Orlando Magic, marking their third consecutive defeat to open the 2026-27 NBA season. Despite a strong first half, the Knicks fell apart defensively in the fourth quarter, allowing the Magic to score 40 points while managing only 27. This loss places the Knicks alongside the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks as the only defending champions to start a season with an 0-3 record in the last 15 years. Following this game, the Knicks face a challenging schedule with upcoming matchups against teams like the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks, necessitating significant improvements to avoid a repeat of the Mavericks' disappointing season.

• 7:10 AMYahoo Sports — Knicks make unfortunate NBA history not seen from defending champion in 15 years