Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots over New York Knicks ahead Taj Gibson (67) in the course of the first half of an NBA basketball sport in New York, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photograph/Peter Okay. Afriyie)
NEW YORK — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 factors, seven assists and 7 rebounds, Bobby Portis added 23 factors and 11 boards, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the New York Knicks 130-111 on Saturday, opening a two-game sequence with their seventh straight victory.
Khris Middleton scored 20 factors for the Bucks, who beat the Knicks for the ninth straight time and can attempt to do it once more Monday in entrance of a nationwide TV viewers because the leadoff sport to the NBA’s Christmas schedule.
“No, it’s not going to be straightforward, however you do the issues that go into successful, you’ve acquired an excellent likelihood,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin mentioned.
Classic Khris.
20 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 2 3PM pic.twitter.com/hQCDmcAYW4
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 23, 2023
A terrific likelihood, if the Bucks maintain rolling the best way they’ve towards the Knicks this month.
The Knicks don’t have a lot time to seek out solutions in what’s been a one-sided matchup, although they had been a bit of extra aggressive than when the Bucks blew them out 146-122 on Dec. 5 within the quarterfinals of the In-Season Match.
“They’ve simply seen us at totally different levels of the season, so far as who we’re as a crew. I believe proper now we’re at our greatest so far as this season goes,” Damian Lillard mentioned.
It hardly ever felt significantly shut, with the Bucks beginning quick and sustaining a snug lead a lot of the manner. They blew it open for good early within the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run that turned an 11-point lead right into a 114-92 cushion on Portis’ 3-pointer with 6:29 to play.
“They’ve acquired quite a lot of weapons, so that you’ve acquired to fly round and there’s instances the place we did it and instances the place we didn’t do it in addition to we must always have,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “However each side of the sport we had been a step behind.”
Milwaukee simply missed having 5 20-point scorers to open its prolonged vacation keep in New York. After the rematch Monday, the Bucks will play Wednesday in Brooklyn, with some gamers both bringing household or hoping to go to some to rejoice.
Lillard had 19 factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists for the Bucks, and Malik Beasley made 5 3-pointers en path to his 19 factors.
Jalen Brunson scored 36 factors in one other good sport towards Milwaukee, having poured in 45 in a Nov. 3 loss. Julius Randle added 26 factors and 7 rebounds because the Knicks had a two-game successful streak snapped.
These groups could have already met 4 instances after the Christmas sport, after their quarterfinal sport within the In-Season Match was added to their 4 that had been already scheduled.
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The Bucks picked up proper the place they left off in that victory, once they shot 60% total and 60.5% from 3-point vary. Milwaukee went 5 for 7 behind the arc within the opening quarter, taking a 36-27 lead.
The Bucks prolonged that to 60-44 on Lillard’s 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining within the half, however the Knicks closed with a 10-2 spurt to trim it to 62-54 when Brunson made a 3-pointer on the buzzer.