One can draw conclusions from Milwaukee’s 1-10 record. For instance, maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo was even more important to their success than we understood. Maybe we overestimated coach Taylor Jenkins a li’l bit? Or maybe the Deer just stink this season? We remember when Jenkins competed with Mike Brown for the Knicks’ top job. There’s a sliding doors moment we’d rather not consider.
Tonight, Jenkins got a solid effort from his team in the opening quarter. A regulation game lasts 48 minutes, though,
and New York’s stifling defense held the Bucks to just 34 points through the first 24. Ahead by two dozen at halftime, the home team let the guests cut the deficit to 11 early in the fourth. Then the dynamic duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyler Kolek restored some sanity, and by the bell, the Knicks had won, 117–85.
For those counting at home, that’s four consecutive wins to bring New York to 6-4. It’s also the fourth time in five games that they’ve held an opponent under 100 points. No Knicks starter played more than 30 minutes (nice, because they’ll need their legs tomorrow against Cleveland). And that’s officially the Bucks’ worst start in 33 years.
The Bucks didn’t play like a last-place team in the first quarter, nor did the Knicks comport themselves like world champions. The lead changed seven times before New York finally found traction late in the quarter. On the plus side, Landry Shamet hit two treys, and Mikal Bridges chipped in two buckets, three rebounds, a steal and a block. For the villains, Ryan Rollins stood out with five points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal.
The Knicks lead their conference in rebounding percentage (53.3%). Give credit to Karl-Anthony Towns (21 PTS, 16 RBS, 27 MIN), who’s grabbing 13.6 boards per night. The KAT campaign for MVP rolled on this evening. In the first quarter, Towns played straight-up defense on one end, deterring a Ryan Rollins drive. At the other end, he played quarterback, hitting Jalen Brunson (23 PTS) on a cut to the cup. He feasted on the well-fed Myles Turner, and the Knicks won the paint 16-6 and the boards 16-8 in the first quarter. The three-ball kept the Bucks competitive, but by the period’s end, the hosts were ahead 26-21.
From the “Gotta Complain About Something” file, Anunoby failed to flush the ball twice tonight. He’s getting to the charity stripe at a career-high clip, but he’s also clanged plenty off the front of the iron. You can’t gripe about this stat-line, though: 19 points, 6-of-12 FG, 5-of-8 3PT, and a +26.
After a strong showing in the first quarter, the visitors wilted fast in the second. Milwaukee scored first, then New York rattled off 10 straight to push the lead to a baker’s dozen. Tyler Kolek (12 PTS, 2-3 3PT, 15 MIN) capped the run with a three, then blocked an AJ Green three, grabbed the rebound and took it the other way for a layup. After a Jenkins timeout, Kolek turned a missed Jaime Jaquez, Jr. (16 PTS) three into a driving finger roll for two.
A little past midway through the frame, the good guys had outscored Milwaukee 19-5. Towns cleaned the glass, and Andre Drummond (14 RBS, 16 MIN) grabbed nine boards in eight first-half minutes. Three came on the offensive end.
Anunoby had a fine second frame, scoring eight with two threes, two assists and a steal. Brunson chipped in six points, and Towns grabbed five boards and made two free throws. Nate Ament led Milwaukee with five points and added a steal. The Knicks won the frame 32-13 and went into halftime up 58-34.
At the half, Milwaukee had matched New York’s eight threes and nearly matched its percentage from deep (35% to 36%). Inside the arc, the Bucks were a dreadful 5-for-19 against the Knicks’ 14-for-27. New York also doubled Milwaukee on the boards, 34-17, including 10 offensive rebounds. Anunoby, Brunson and Shamet shared the halftime scoring lead with 10 apiece. Ament had seven for the guests.
Jaquez burst out of intermission with fire and desire, scoring nine of his team’s first 15 points as the Bucks lopped 10 points off their deficit. Rollins had a fine quarter, too, hitting three treys. KAT missed his first six tries from deep but still managed his 10th double-double of the season. The Captain found his touch, scoring 13 of the Knicks’ 27 third-quarter points. For the visitors, Kasparas Jakučionis added five points and two assists in the final 3:08. The Bucks won the quarter 38-27 and trailed 85-72 heading into the fourth.
After surrendering an alley-oop to Kel’el Ware, the Knicks found themselves ahead by 11 early in the fourth. It was time to get serious. Towns drilled a triple, his first make in seven tries. He missed two freebies, but Shamet grabbed the rebound and Kolek cashed it in from deep. Oh, and don’t look now, but here comes Karl with another bomb! He and Kolek synergized and synthesized, combining for New York’s first 11 points of the quarter.
Anunoby buried back-to-back threes to cap a 21-6 Knicks run that stretched the lead from 13 to 28. Gary Trent Jr. scored five quick points for Milwaukee, but it was too little, too late. Dalton Knecht, Pacôme Dadiet and Jose Alvarado got some run as the bench crew swept up and turned off the lights while the starters thought about their dinner plans.
Up Next
Mo is basting his recap in delicious juices. The Knicks are back at the Garden tomorrow for another clash with the Cavs. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
