PREVIEW: The New York Knicks face the Orlando Magic on Saturday in the NBA Cup semifinal at 5:30 ET , marking their fourth meeting in just over a month. Both teams have recovered from sluggish starts to emerge as legitimate Eastern Conference contenders , with the Knicks sitting second in the standings and the Magic in fourth. New York has won 15 of their last 19 games , propelled by Jalen Brunson's league-leading scoring at 28.3 points per game alongside Karl-Anthony Towns' 22.1 points and 12 rebounds. Orlando will be without leading scorer Franz Wagner due to an ankle injury, which significantly impacts their frontcourt balance alongside Paolo Banchero. Desmond Bane has been Orlando's revelation since joining the Magic in November, and the team has gone 11-4 since his arrival , showcasing the depth these teams possess heading into crunch time. The Knicks claimed a 106-100 home victory in their most recent matchup , though the Magic dominated the first two meetings with strong defensive efforts in both contests. The Knicks are nearly at full strength and playing their best basketball of the season , while Orlando must navigate the absence of a key scorer in Wagner. With everything on the line for a Finals berth, expect an intense battle between two teams that know each other's tendencies inside and out.