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With the Magic's morning drama casting a definite pall over the game, the Knicks controlled the action throughout. After handing the Magic a 22-point loss seven days ago, New York again was the aggressor and took a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Knicks built their lead with shot after shot from beyond the arc and with easy buckets underneath.
Chandler also rendered Howard ineffective on the defensive end, holding the Magic's star center scoreless until a dunk with 3 seconds left in the third quarter.
Orlando never really threatened in the fourth.
The Knicks shot 48 percent (38 for 78), marking the fifth straight game the Magic have allowed an opponent to shoot at least 47 percent from the floor.
"I think we're able to take (Howard) out of his comfort zone and make things difficult for him by not giving him easy shots," Chandler said. "The loss in Indiana was a disappointing loss. We feel like we should have won. I am proud of my teammates about how we responded."
The Magic, who fell to 32-23, also dropped to sixth place in the East.
Magic point guard Jameer Nelson said the focus going forward will be to ignore all issues that don't pertain to what's happening on the court. For what it was worth, Nelson also took a moment to offer a vote of confidence for Van Gundy.
"We've been handling adversity all season," he said. "This is just another chapter of it. This is about us players and management sticking together. I love Stan as a coach. Since he's been here he's helped my career. Helped tremendously. He's a great person."
NOTES: Magic F Hedo Turkoglu left the game with 2:14 left in the second quarter after getting inadvertently hit across the right eye while trying to contest a shot by Anthony. He got three stitches and did not return. .. Orlando F Ryan Anderson missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle. ...Stoudemire was out for his sixth consecutive game with a bulging disc in his back. ...The Knicks improved to 4-3 since Stoudemire and Lin (knee) were sidelined with injuries.
[Associated Press;
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