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ORLANDO, Fla. — RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson wanted to forget their performances in the blowout loss to Cleveland on Saturday. Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin wanted to continue their momentum.
It all happened in a perfect storm that featured the first triple-double of Quickley’s career.
One day later, Barrett and Robinson reversed their fortunes in tearing through the Magic with potent games as the Knicks captured a 118-88 laugher at Garden South — also known as Amway Center.
It was a giddy evening in downtown Orlando — even if this season is a complete failure and the Knicks ran up the score on a depleted 20-59 club.
With the fans chanting “O-bi’’ in the fourth quarter as the Knicks mounted a 30-point-plus lead, Toppin tied his career-high set Saturday by pouring in 20 points with eight rebounds and was a plus-37.
Quickley finished with 20 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. He got his final rebound with the Knicks up 27 points when rookie guard Miles McBride probably should’ve been in the game.
Toppin scored on the fast break with nifty dunks but also showed his improving 3-point shot by draining 4 of 10 treys.
Barrett scored 27 points with six assists, shooting a healthy 9 of 20 from the field. Robinson added 12 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and three steals.
The Knicks led by 32 points after three quarters and the crowd was chanting “Let’s Go Knicks.’’ It’s hard to believe the Knicks lost two games to Orlando at the Garden this season. The teams finished the season series at 2-2 with neither club able to win at home.
On Saturday, Barrett was held to 12 points on 4 of 18 shooting with three turnovers. Meanwhile, Robinson seemed oddly detached against Cavaliers center Moses Brown, getting outmuscled.
Barrett and Robinson brought the muscle Sunday as the Knicks got up 57-47 at intermission, leading almost the entire way.
Barrett relentlessly attacked the rim to make up for Saturday’s dismal performance. Barrett opened the game with a 3-pointer. He wound up with 15 points in the first half, though shooting just 5 of 13.
Midway through the second quarter, Barrett missed on a wild layup attempt and the Magic scored in transition with Mo Wagner’s layup, bringing the Magic within 39-36.
Wagner slammed home a putback over Knicks rookie center Jericho Sims, giving the Magic a 45-44 lead. The Knicks closed out the second quarter on a 13-2 run with Quickley (13 points on nine shots in the first half) heating up and Robinson scoring on two monster alley-oop lobs — one from Barrett.
After a lethargic performance Saturday, Robinson was all over the glass with an extra pep to his step on both ends. Robinson finished with four blocks, two steals, six points and eight rebounds in 16:39 of action in the first half. He might have been motivated in facing Harlem native Mo Bamba, a restricted free agent this summer.
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