One of Tom Thibodeau’s strengths has been the ability to keep the Knicks focused on the game in front of them, and the next one on the docket is a big one in terms of jockeying for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic, who are a half-game above the skidding Knicks in the standings, will visit the Garden on Friday night looking to sweep the season series after taking the first three head-to-head meetings.
“Extremely, extremely important,” Josh Hart said after Thursday’s practice. “Obviously, Orlando I think they’ve won five games in a row, 8-2 in their last 10, playing really good basketball.
“So we know that’s obviously a challenge, and [with] us coming in kind of riddled by injuries a little bit. So we know that coming in and we know they’re a half-game ahead of us in the standings. We know all those things. It also means we [have] to give them our best shot. And we know on the other side, on the flip side, they’re going to give us their best shot and they’re right there.
“So we know it’s going to be a battle.”
Friday’s game will be followed by two in a row at home against the 76ers, who are one game behind the Knicks (36-26) in the No. 7 play-in position in the East.
“After the All-Star break, the last 10-15 games, I think all teams and all players are looking at the standings and trying to sneak into the playoff or play-in or get that homecourt advantage that we are fighting for right now,” Bojan Bogdanovic said. “We lost three games to Orlando this season. … We’ve got Philly coming right after.
“These three games are really important because we have [almost] the same record. So having guys back healthier and having that sense of urgency to earn home-court advantage in the playoffs is gonna be big for us.”
Jalen Brunson (left knee contusion) remains questionable for the Knicks, as is Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) for the Magic.