ORLANDO, Fla. — As coach Tom Thibodeau walked down the tunnel and into the interview room at Amway Center late Friday night, one of the many Knicks fans on hand yelled, “Why don’t you look happy?’’
Thibodeau smiled. The Knicks head coach should’ve been smiling all night.
It felt as if the Knicks staged another home opener Friday. This one went a lot easier than Wednesday’s double-overtime dogfight with the Celtics, as the Knicks set a franchise record for 3-point makes and attempts and bludgeoned the woeful Magic, 121-96.
They delighted the large contingent of fans in Knicks jerseys by building a 20-point lead after one quarter and raising the lead to 31 points midway through the second.
The Knicks finished the night 24-for-54 from 3-point range (44.4 percent). Their prior record for 3s was 20, and the night underscored Thibodeau’s seasonal mission.
“We wanted to shoot more 3s, but we wanted them to be the right 3s,’’ Thibodeau said. “So when guys are putting it down, when the second defender comes, make the right read. Your rim reads are critical and make the extra pass.’’
Immanuel Quickley, who buried four 3-pointers, said: “Honestly, we might be able to [beat] it again as far as the way we play together, the way we move the ball. Thibs wants us to shoot more 3s. We might be able to beat it again.’’
In the second half, Julius Randle and Quickley were laughing downcourt after draining them. Randle banked one in and, after Quickley hit one trey, his contact lens came out and he caught it.
The Knicks have a lot to be happy about. It’s the first time they have started 2-0 since the 2012-13 season, when they won 54 games. Even last season, they began 0-2 before going on to finish 41-31.
The Knicks completely ruined Orlando’s home opener. The NBA did the Magic no favors putting the Knicks in this building for their first home game. The fans chanted “Let’s Go Knicks” in the first half, serenaded their 2020 lottery pick, Obi Toppin, with “O-bi’’ chants and gave Derrick Rose the arena’s loudest ovation when he checked into the game.
Friday was as much fun for the Knicks as someone’s first time at Disney’s nearby Magic Kingdom.
“That’s the great thing about being with the Knicks,’’ Thibodeau said. “Every city we go to, we feel that support. There’s a great appreciation by our team to have that support. We want to give them something to be proud of. We want to play as smart as we can and together as we can. New York fans appreciate that style.’’
Meanwhile, the Magic, who may vie for the NBA’s worst record as they embark on another massive rebuilding, have to visit the Garden on Sunday.
“It’s great,’’ Quickley said of the fan support. “It kind of reminds me of college playing at Kentucky. The fans traveled. The Knicks fans are the best fans in the league. So it’s great to have your home-court advantage, and I feel like on the road we have a little bit of an advantage, too.’’
Before the game, Evan Fournier, the Knicks’ new shooting guard, talked about “hating’’ when he faced them while playing for the Magic because of the large contingent of New York fans. Fournier then scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half, drilling 3 of 6 3s by intermission.
He loved being on the other side — the road team getting the love.
“Tonight was a home game,’’ Fournier said. “I mean, my goodness. I’ve been in that building many, many times, and I felt like I was at home tonight. That’s really what it felt like.’’
Seven Knicks — Randle (21), Fournier (18), Quickley (16), Toppin (13), Alec Burks (12), Rose (12) and Kemba Walker (11) — scored in double figures. The Knicks shot 50 percent and also notched 24 fast-break points — another Thibodeau goal.
Quickley, Burks, Rose and Fournier led the Knicks with four 3-pointers each.
“I think it really starts with our defense,’’ Randle said. “When we get defensive stops, we’re able to get out on the open court and run, then put them on their heels, make plays, drive and kick.’’
The Knicks’ revamped offense was humming, and 13 of their first 18 field goals were off assists. The spree started early with Walker, who historically has played well in Orlando, drilling his first three 3-pointers to set the tone.
The Knicks players had no idea they had set the record.
“That’s cool,’’ Fournier said. “Honestly, we just played the right way. We took what was in front of us. It started with Kemba. That really got us going. [He] made I think three 3s coming off pick-and-rolls. It gives us confidence.’’