NBA: Bucks defeat Knicks to remain unbeaten
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the visiting New York Knicks 119-108 to maintain their perfect record on Friday night in the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists as the Milwaukee Bucks managed to hold a lead for the majority of the game.
The Bucks scored at least 30 points for the third straight game, Antetokounmpo made 11 of 22 shots, finished with his fourth straight double-double, and the club won four straight games to stay the only unbeaten team in the NBA.
The Bucks escaped shooting 38.5 percent thanks to Grayson Allen’s 17 points, Jrue Holiday’s 16 points, and their combined efforts of six assists. Reserves Bobby Portis and George Hill both contributed 12, while Brook Lopez and Jevon Carter each finished with 14.
With his 20 points, RJ Barrett led the Knicks, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. While Jalen Brunson was limited to 13, Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley each contributed 14 points as the Knicks shot 39.8% and suffered their 16th loss in the previous 20 games.
With 4:53 left, Hill’s layup gave the Bucks a 115-98 lead, giving Milwaukee what seemed to be a game-winning advantage. This was Antetokounmpo’s tenth assist of the game. Until Holiday picked off a misdirected pass from Quickley and sprinted in for a layup to seal the victory with 29.3 seconds left, New York scored the next eight points and Milwaukee missed 12 straight shots.
Milwaukee gradually gained control in the first three quarters before going on a late shooting slump.
Quickley’s 3-pointer with 53 seconds left in the first quarter gave New York its lone lead, while Milwaukee held a lead of 26-24 following Portis’ tip-in at the buzzer and went on to lead 59-53 at the break when Brunson’s 52-foot 3-point attempt was adjudged to have come after the buzzer.
Barrett’s finger roll cut the Knicks’ deficit to 72-66 with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter, but the Bucks then scored 18 straight points to go up 90-68 with 4:10 remaining, thanks to George Hill’s 3-pointer. After outscoring the Bucks 17-6 for the remainder of the third, New York fell behind 96-85 going into the fourth.
