Bucks beat the Knicks again in a one-sided series, with the teams set to meet again on Christmas
NEW YORK (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, Bobby Portis added 23 points and 11 boards, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the New York Knicks 130-111 on Saturday, opening a two-game series with their seventh straight victory.
Khris Middleton scored 20 points for the Bucks, who beat the Knicks for the ninth straight time and will try to do it again Monday in front of a national TV audience as the leadoff game to the NBA's Christmas schedule.
“No, it’s not going to be easy, but you do the things that go into winning, you’ve got a good chance,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said.
A great chance, if the Bucks keep rolling the way they have against the Knicks this month.
The Knicks don't have much time to find answers in what's been a one-sided matchup, though they were a little more competitive than when the Bucks blew them out 146-122 on Dec. 5 in the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament.
“They’ve just seen us at different stages of the season, as far as who we are as a team. I think right now we’re at our best as far as this season goes,” Damian Lillard said.
It rarely felt particularly close, with the Bucks starting fast and maintaining a comfortable lead most of the way. They blew it open for good early in the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run that turned an 11-point lead into a 114-92 cushion on Portis' 3-pointer with 6:29 to play.
“They’ve got a lot of weapons, so you’ve got to fly around and there’s times where we did it and times where we didn’t do it as well as we should have,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “But every aspect of the game we were a step behind.”
Milwaukee just missed having five 20-point scorers to open its lengthy holiday stay in New York. After the rematch Monday, the Bucks will play Wednesday in Brooklyn, with some players either bringing family or hoping to visit some to celebrate.
Lillard had 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Bucks, and Malik Beasley made five 3-pointers en route to his 19 points.
Jalen Brunson scored 36 points in another good game against Milwaukee, having poured in 45 in a Nov. 3 loss. Julius Randle added 26 points and seven rebounds as the Knicks had a two-game winning streak snapped.
These teams will have already met four times after the Christmas game, after their quarterfinal game in the In-Season Tournament was added to their four that were already scheduled.
The Bucks picked up right where they left off in that victory, when they shot 60% overall and 60.5% from 3-point range. Milwaukee went 5 for 7 behind the arc in the opening quarter, taking a 36-27 lead.
The Bucks extended that to 60-44 on Lillard's 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining in the half, but the Knicks closed with a 10-2 spurt to trim it to 62-54 when Brunson made a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Brook Lopez vs. Isaiah Hartenstein (Malik Beasley gains possession) | ||
| 11:42 | | Isaiah Hartenstein shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 11:42 |  | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-0 |
| 11:42 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-0 |
| 11:28 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 2-2 |
| 11:14 | | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:12 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 11:03 | | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | ||
| 10:57 | | +2 | Malik Beasley makes two point running layup | 4-2 |
| 10:40 | | RJ Barrett misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 10:25 | | Julius Randle misses two point fadeaway bank jump shot | ||
| 10:24 | | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | ||
| 10:18 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point running layup | ||
| 10:16 | | Khris Middleton offensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | Khris Middleton turnover (lost ball) (Donte DiVincenzo steals) | ||
| 10:07 | | Julius Randle misses two point running layup | ||
| 10:05 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 10:05 | | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point tip layup | 4-4 |
| 10:00 | | Isaiah Hartenstein shooting foul (Brook Lopez draws the foul) | ||
| 10:00 | | +1 | Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-4 |
| 10:00 | | +1 | Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-4 |
| 9:47 | | Julius Randle turnover (traveling) | ||
| 9:29 | | Khris Middleton misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:27 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 9:16 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo personal foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 9:10 | | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot | 6-7 |
| 8:57 | | +3 | Damian Lillard makes three point pullup jump shot | 9-7 |
| 8:40 | | Khris Middleton shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | ||
| 8:40 | | RJ Barrett misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:40 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 8:40 | | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-8 |
| 8:27 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving hook shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 11-8 |
| 8:16 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 11-10 |
| 8:02 | | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point pullup jump shot | 13-10 |
| 7:50 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point pullup jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 13-12 |
| 7:37 | | Damian Lillard misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:35 | | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | RJ Barrett misses two point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:27 | | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | ||
| 7:18 | | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 16-12 |
| 7:03 | | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 16-15 |
| 6:50 | | +3 | Khris Middleton makes three point pullup jump shot | 19-15 |
| 6:41 | | Donte DiVincenzo turnover (bad pass) (Giannis Antetokounmpo steals) | ||
| 6:39 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo turnover (bad pass) (Julius Randle steals) | ||
| 6:34 | | Julius Randle misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:32 | | Taj Gibson offensive rebound | ||
| 6:31 | | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point pullup jump shot (Taj Gibson assists) | 19-18 |
| 6:29 | | Bucks 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:08 | | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point pullup jump shot | 21-18 |
| 5:53 | | RJ Barrett misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:51 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 5:34 | | Bobby Portis misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 5:32 | | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | ||
| 5:26 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 5:24 | | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | ||
| 5:20 | | Donte DiVincenzo personal foul (Bobby Portis draws the foul) | ||
| 5:06 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point jump shot (Malik Beasley assists) | 23-18 |
| 4:52 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:50 | | Pat Connaughton defensive rebound | ||
| 4:41 | | Damian Lillard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:39 | | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | ||
| 4:29 | | Malik Beasley personal foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 4:26 | | Josh Hart turnover (lost ball) (Bobby Portis steals) | ||
| 4:24 | | Josh Hart shooting foul (Bobby Portis draws the foul) | ||
| 4:24 | | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-18 |
| 4:24 | | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-18 |
| 4:07 | | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point driving layup (Jalen Brunson assists) | 25-20 |
| 3:56 | | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 28-20 |
| 3:44 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 28-22 |
| 3:33 | | Taj Gibson shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | ||
| 3:33 | | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-22 |
| 3:33 | | Damian Lillard misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 3:31 | | Julius Randle defensive rebound | ||
| 3:17 | | Julius Randle misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:15 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 3:11 | | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point running jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 32-22 |
| 2:48 | | Taj Gibson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:46 | | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | ||
| 2:37 | | Damian Lillard misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:36 | | Damian Lillard offensive rebound | ||
| 2:34 | | Damian Lillard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 2:32 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | ||
| 2:32 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point tip layup | 34-22 |
| 2:20 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 2:18 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Damian Lillard turnover (bad pass) (Josh Hart steals) | ||
| 1:57 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point driving layup | 34-24 |
| 1:57 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 1:57 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:57 | | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 34-25 |
| 1:45 | | Damian Lillard turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 1:35 | | Immanuel Quickley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:33 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 1:21 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:19 | | Damian Lillard offensive rebound | ||
| 1:08 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:45 | | Julius Randle misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:43 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 0:34 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving layup | 36-25 |
| 0:10 | | +2 | Taj Gibson makes two point jump shot (Immanuel Quickley assists) | 36-27 |
| 0:02 | | Damian Lillard misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Quentin Grimes defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:43 | | Julius Randle misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 11:41 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 11:35 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point running pullup jump shot | 38-27 |
| 11:22 | | Immanuel Quickley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Pat Connaughton defensive rebound | ||
| 11:08 | | Pat Connaughton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:06 | | Andre Jackson Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 10:56 | | Pat Connaughton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:54 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 10:49 | | +2 | Quentin Grimes makes two point running layup (Josh Hart assists) | 38-29 |
| 10:36 | | Josh Hart shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 10:36 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:36 | | Bucks offensive rebound | ||
| 10:36 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-29 |
| 10:21 | | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point driving layup | 39-31 |
| 10:21 | | Bobby Portis shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 10:21 | | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 39-32 |
| 10:05 | | Bobby Portis misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:03 | | Andre Jackson Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Andre Jackson Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Quentin Grimes steals) | ||
| 9:52 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo blocks Isaiah Hartenstein's two point cutting layup | ||
| 9:50 | | Cameron Payne defensive rebound | ||
| 9:47 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:28 | | Immanuel Quickley misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:26 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 9:10 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point driving floating jump shot (Andre Jackson Jr. assists) | 41-32 |
| 8:43 | | Bobby Portis shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | ||
| 8:43 | | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-33 |
| 8:43 | | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-34 |
| 8:30 | | +2 | Brook Lopez makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Cameron Payne assists) | 43-34 |
| 8:12 | | Andre Jackson Jr. shooting foul (Immanuel Quickley draws the foul) | ||
| 8:12 | | +1 | Immanuel Quickley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 43-35 |
| 8:12 | | +1 | Immanuel Quickley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-36 |
| 7:58 | | Quentin Grimes personal foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | ||
| 7:51 | | Khris Middleton misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:49 | | Bobby Portis offensive rebound | ||
| 7:46 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point putback layup | 45-36 |
| 7:32 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:30 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 7:22 | | Brook Lopez misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:20 | | Quentin Grimes defensive rebound | ||
| 7:14 | | +2 | Immanuel Quickley makes two point driving floating jump shot | 45-38 |
| 6:59 | | Brook Lopez misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 6:57 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 6:51 | | Josh Hart misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:49 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 6:33 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 47-38 |
| 6:24 | | Josh Hart misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 6:22 | | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | ||
| 6:18 | | +3 | Bobby Portis makes three point running jump shot (Khris Middleton assists) | 50-38 |
| 6:17 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:02 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving finger roll layup | 50-40 |
| 5:49 | | Bobby Portis misses two point hook shot | ||
| 5:47 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 5:41 | | RJ Barrett misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:39 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 5:25 | | +3 | Cameron Payne makes three point pullup jump shot (Khris Middleton assists) | 53-40 |
| 5:06 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:04 | | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | ||
| 4:58 | | Quentin Grimes shooting foul (Cameron Payne draws the foul) | ||
| 4:58 | | +1 | Cameron Payne makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 54-40 |
| 4:58 | | Cameron Payne misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | ||
| 4:58 | | Bucks offensive rebound | ||
| 4:58 | | +1 | Cameron Payne makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 55-40 |
| 4:38 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 4:36 | | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | ||
| 4:29 | | Julius Randle personal foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 4:17 |