The New York Knicks secured a 116-107 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, with OG Anunoby scoring 20 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter. New York improved to 46-27, maintaining its hold on third place in the Eastern Conference, while Milwaukee (40-33) suffered its third consecutive loss.
Mikal Bridges contributed 26 points for the Knicks, while Josh Hart nearly recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 points and 10 rebounds as New York completed a season sweep of Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game absence due to a sprained left foot and led the Bucks with 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins each had 20 points, with Rollins setting a career-high.
New York took control early, never trailing after the first four minutes. The Knicks led by as many as 17 before Milwaukee trimmed the deficit to two in the third quarter.
Anunoby’s dominant final quarter ensured there would be no comeback attempt. The forward shot 10-for-10 from the free-throw line and hit three three-pointers in the closing minutes to keep the Bucks at bay.
New York’s defense capitalized on Milwaukee’s mistakes, outscoring the Bucks 26-13 in points off turnovers. The Knicks also held a 44-32 advantage in total rebounds, with Hart and Towns leading the charge on the glass.
With Jalen Brunson, Cam Payne, and Miles McBride sidelined, New York relied on contributions from reserves. Delon Wright, who began the season with Milwaukee, scored 12 points in his first double-digit outing of the year. Tyler Kolek, a former Marquette standout, provided five points and five assists off the bench.
Milwaukee’s postseason positioning took another hit with the loss. The Bucks now sit three games behind fourth-place Indiana and trail fifth-place Detroit by 1.5 games in the race for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
