Nov 14, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley looks on during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Playing without their head coach in the second half, the Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks on Saturday for their sixth win in seven games.

Down by two points at halftime, Jamahl Mosley wasn't spotted on the sideline to begin the third quarter due to what the team called an illness. He wouldn't return, with assistant Joe Prunty serving as the acting head coach for the duration of their 133-121 victory at the Kia Center.

Despite exiting early, Mosley gave his usual postgame press conference afterward, stating that he wasn't able to watch the second half from the locker room. He thanked the players and coaches for stepping in and closing out the win.

"(I'm) better now," Mosley said. "(I was) lightheaded, almost dizzy on the sideline. ... But much better now. It was scary, but for the most part, way better now. Our guys did a great job. You've got to credit the guys, the coaches, just for coming in and holding our standard and doing our standard."

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 37 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Desmond Bane scored 27 points and Jalen Suggs added 26 points. It was the first time since April 2019 that the Magic had three players score at least 25 points in the same game.

The Magic improved to 2-0 against the Knicks this season after defeating New York in their first meeting at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12. The players rallied around each other in the second half, led by the 27-year veteran coach, Prunty.

"It happened really fast," Suggs said of the coaching change. "I kind of didn't even really know that he wasn't coming back out until that first couple of minutes when he didn't walk out of the tunnel. We're always praying for him, giving him our love. I hope he feels better, but I think Joe P. did a great job in coming to step in. ... I think all of us took a whole other leap of responsibility in terms of what we needed to do to go finish the game."

Jalen Brunson produced 33 points and 11 assists and Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Knicks, who had five players finish in double figures. The group dropped to 1-5 on the road this season and 1-2 on its current five-game trek.

The Magic outscored the Knicks by 14 points in the second half after shooting 59.1% shooting from the field and converting eight turnovers into 10 points. Overall, Orlando held a 64-46 advantage in the paint to notch its new season high in scoring.

"We have a bunch of guys that are already connected and stay pushing each other (and) stay bonded together," Mosley said of the second half. "I think that says a lot about not just them but about the staff and understanding what we need to do. The most important thing in this moment was holding our standard and winning the game. These guys knew that's what it was, and they found a way to get it done."

Orlando, which finished its homestand with a 3-0 record, travels to Boston to begin a three-game road trip on Sunday. The team will also visit Philadelphia (Tuesday) and Detroit (Friday) for its last two group games in the NBA Cup.

Mosley ruled out Paolo Banchero for a sixth straight game on Sunday due to a left groin strain. He said a status for Suggs, who hasn't played in back-to-back games this season due to a prior knee injury, will be determined at a later time.

As for his own status, Mosley expects to return on Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Magic coach Jamahl Mosley 'better' after 'scary' exit from Knicks game

Reporting by Cody Taylor, Rookie Wire / Rookie Wire

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