EMIRATES NBA CUP

December 13, 2025

Jamahl Mosley

Orlando Magic

Semifinal Postgame

New York Knicks 132, Orlando Magic 120

Q. What made it so tough to slow them down tonight?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: I think we were trying to rely on the offense more than we were trying to sit down and guard. We got into an early exchange. It was a back-and-forth battle.

We gave up three 30-point quarters, and that's not our brand of basketball when it comes to that. We've got to work on sitting down and guarding early and let our defense create our offense, and you've got to finish on the other end when you do have those opportunities offensively.

Q. What happened with Jalen?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: Sore hip. He was getting beat up a lot. Right now, it's a sore hip.

Q. The and-1 late in the second quarter, he stayed down. Did he just hit the wrong spot?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: I believe so. Obviously we're going to look at it when we get back. At the end of the day, he's a warrior for being out there and dealing what he's dealing with.

I think we'll evaluate him when we get back home and see where he is with it.

Q. What takeaways or what learning lessons did today provide for you guys when you have bigger things in mind?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: I think this was a great experience for our team to recognize exactly what we need to do in these moments. Defensively being able to stick to our game plan and defend the right way, allowing that to dictate our offense. Obviously early on, defending without fouling.

But I think it's a great opportunity for our guys to look back at this and learn and understand how we need to play consistently. We've been playing some good basketball. It's just tonight you've got to give New York a ton of credit for how they came out and played.

Q. Do you feel like your team had their trademark physicality?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: Sometimes it's hard to have the trademark physicality when you're picking up early fouls on some touch fouls. I would like us to have our physicality and be there, but you have to be a little bit hands off when you pick up two early fouls on some of your best guards that should be on All-Defensive Teams. But they're getting called for some calls which were touch ones.

Q. You guys were able to get back into the game after trailing by 10 in the third quarter, but then the Knicks were able to extend it out at the end of the quarter. What do you think happened maybe to kind of flip that switch back for New York, and how do you kind of maintain momentum in these kinds of games?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: We got it back. We fought. We battled. That's what this team is going to continue to do. I think what happened with them is they made a couple timely shots. We missed a couple timely shots, a couple rebounds here and there for second-chance opportunities.

Again, those are the details of the game we're going to have to continue to look at. Again, give New York a ton of credit for how they came out and played as well.

Q. Paolo got 24 points, but he still seems like he's working his way back from the groin injury and being out for three weeks. What are you seeing from him as he continues to develop? I know you look at the longer arc of things, but how is he developing, and what more do you want to see from him as he continues to find his way?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: You said it. Coming back from quite some time, taking time to find the rhythm, just continuing to find that rhythm within the group. As we continue to go on, just being able to move his minutes up a little bit more so he can get that rhythm throughout the game.

Q. The Towns and-1 with 3:30 to go, it looked like you wanted to challenge and the bench kind of waved you off of that. What did they see that made you guys not want to challenge that?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: By the time I was going to look back, they already handed him the basketball. So by the time I was going to go step on the court to challenge it, they already handed him the basketball. I thought it was an offensive foul in that moment looking back, but they had already handed him the basketball at the free throw line.

Q. I want to make sure I understand. What areas of the defensive game plan did your team not follow, if there were any?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: First, when we scored, they were getting it out quick and pushing it back. So transition is the number one priority, getting back. Then obviously being able to defend early without fouling Jalen Brunson, that started it off early. Then KAT getting to the free throw line as well.

Those pieces, you can't control all of them, but can we do a better job showing our hands, being in position earlier, all those small pieces.

Our guys continued to fight no matter what, but us giving up three 30-point quarters is not reflective of our defense and who we are.

Q. (No microphone)

JAMAHL MOSLEY: Yeah, they scored about eight points off of after we scored. They're now flying down the court, and we've got to make sure we're sprinting back. It was an eight- to 10-point game, and those are baskets you can't get back.

I credit our guys for doing the right job of keeping them off the offensive glass. But our ability to convert is going to be key for us.

Q. Brunson is always a first page of the scouting report guy obviously, probably the first name on it. What makes him so good in big moments? He has this knack, this history obviously.

JAMAHL MOSLEY: I think he constantly finds a way. He gets you in tough positions. He knows how to use his footwork, knows how to use his leverage, knows how to get calls, stepping into shots. He plays those long minutes early on, being able to find matchup situations.

Again, he hit some tough, timely shots. I think that's what you have to credit him for. He's one of those guys who continues to do that, and that's what he's proven to do in this league.

Q. I know how much you love injury stuff, but could we see Mo on the trip?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: No.

Q. Not yet?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: No.

Q. You had a nine-man rotation in Tuesday's game. You turned to Jett and then obviously Jase there in the fourth quarter. What does it say about them and that they're able to contribute and be ready for those moments? How important could that be as you hit the road a little bit heavier toward the end of the month?

JAMAHL MOSLEY: It's so important. We talk about this road trip coming up, our depth, our ability to put guys in that know they can step into the moment and play the right way. I thought they both did a very good job stepping in and playing their minutes the right way, aggressively hard both offensively and defensively. I thought that was great for both of those guys.