The Knicks‘ offense just couldn’t find a rhythm without Karl-Anthony Towns on the floor. With the Magic’s size dominating, they had to rely on Jericho Sims, who doesn’t exactly strike fear into defenses. It’s like trying to cook without the key ingredient – everything just feels off. Playing Sims in that spot? Not the ideal fix, especially when you need offensive firepower.

The Knicks thought they had a cakewalk on their hands on Monday night, facing a depleted Orlando Magic team. But as anyone who’s ever counted out an underdog knows, they were seriously mistaken. Despite missing key guys like Paolo Banchero, Orlando stunned New York with a 103-94 win.

The Knicks were down by two at the half. But their starting lineup struggled to find a rhythm—shooting just 43% from the field. Plus, their three-point shooting was abysmal. Only 4 of their 22 attempts went in. It wasn’t exactly the performance they’d hoped for in front of their home crowd. This shooting form then garnered a comment from their guard, Josh Hart.

“It’s an NBA season. There’s going to be peaks and valleys… We’ve got to make sure we are focused and give off the right energy. We can’t have our own individual agendas. Got to make sure we’re locked in on this team. Sacrificing for this team and go out there and play,” said Hart after the match. Hart played 42 mins, scoring 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting (55.6%). He hit 1-of-3 from deep and was perfect at the line going 4-4.

Jalen Brunson had a rough night, shooting 8-of-21 from the floor. What’s more surprising? He didn’t make a single three-pointer for the second straight game against the Magic. His lone attempt from beyond the arc missed, which isn’t what you’d expect from someone of his caliber. You can’t help but wonder if Orlando’s defense is living rent-free in his head at this point.

It looks like whenever a starter is out the Knicks struggle.

The Knicks’ second unit can’t perform, Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence- not the issue!

The Knicks, who recently looked unstoppable with nine straight wins and victories in 19 of their last 23 games, have now dropped three in a row. The reason? Depth—or lack of it. Nearly 88% of the team’s payroll is locked into six players, and Mitchell Robinson, one of them, hasn’t suited up this season while recovering from ankle surgery. Without Robinson, the Knicks are already thin, and the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns has only made things worse.

Jericho Sims filled in for Towns, contributing 4 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block, during his 29 minutes. Later, Tom Thibodeau turned to Precious Achiuwa, who logged the entire fourth quarter during New York’s failed comeback attempt. Desperate to change the game, Thibodeau even tried going small with Landry Shamet playing alongside the starters, but it wasn’t enough.

Let’s talk about the bench. It’s been a struggle—again.

Orlando’s reserves dominated, outscoring New York’s 50-18. Here’s a wild stat: the Knicks’ bench hasn’t outscored an opponent’s since December 1. That game? It was against the Pelicans, a team sitting at the very bottom of the NBA standings.

It’s clear this Knicks squad needs a shake-up. Relying on a handful of players to carry the load just isn’t cutting it anymore.