Jalen Brunson returned and drove the steamroller over a surging team at MSG.
Brunson, who missed the previous contest with a knee contusion, dropped 26 points as the Knicks pummeled the Magic on Friday, 98-74, a cakewalk highlighted by their dominant defense.
It was the fewest points the Knicks’ allowed since 2012.
The Knicks (37-26), who are soon returning OG Anunoby from elbow surgery, took the fourth spot in the East from the Magic (37-27), which had its five-game winning streak snapped.
Brunson’s impact was immediate.
He scored 10 points in the opening quarter, as the Knicks held a 21-9 advantage within seven minutes.
The lead hit 14 at halftime, then ballooned to 26 at the end of the third quarter.
The Magic, which was 3-0 against the Knicks this season, never led.
It shot just 34 percent overall and 23 percent from beyond the arc.
The Knicks’ heroes, other than Brunson, were clearly Precious Achiuwa (15 points, 14 rebounds, 39 minutes) and Josh Hart (19 points, seven rebounds, four assists in 42 minutes).
Miles McBride added 14 points off the bench in the wire-to-wire win.
Hart’s energy in the first half, equipped with enthusiastic yelling and celebrations, carried the Knicks through stretches.
His putback dunk with about three minutes left in the fourth sent the crowd into a frenzy and capped his latest “All Hart” performance.