Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks proved to be way too much for Jeff Hornacek’s New York Knicks to handle on Wednesday night.
- New York Knicks 93 (26-39)
- Milwaukee Bucks 104 (30-33)
- NBA, Final, Box Score
- BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Game 3 of the playoff atmosphere matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks came as a success for the New York Knicks. The first game was won by a Giannis Antetokounmpo buzzer-beater in Madison Square Garden and a Knicks 4th-quarter comeback won the second game. This game was no different and came down to the wire until the end. Milwaukee came out with the win tonight, thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo who poured in 32 points on 11-of-21 from the floor.
The Knicks simply cannot find a way to win back to back games, as the last time it’s happened came on Dec. 23.
New York was up by 12 points in the third quarter but quickly went away from Derrick Rose and stopped staying close to the Bucks. This allowed the Greek Freak to take over the game.
Speaking of D-Rose, he was, by far, the Knicks most potent offensive player on the night. His 26 points came on a crazy 13-16 from the floor.
Antetokounmpo came alive in the second half and finished with 34 points to lead the Bucks to a 104-93 win in a college environment at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
It was deja vu all over again for the Knicks, New York got off to another slow start in the first quarter. After trailing 11-2, Carmelo Anthony got the offense back going with five straight points and a couple of and-1. The Knicks ended the first quarter only down by two points (30-32).
After Jeff Hornacek took out the starters, he was hoping the second unit can play with continuity and explosiveness like the past two games. That wasn’t the case, the bench stretched out the two-point deficit to 10 points.
Hornacek had to go back to his starting rotation quick in the second quarter before Milwaukee takes full control of the game. Once the starters entered back in the game they erased a 10 point lead to a one-point lead heading into halftime (56-55). That run was led by rookie Willy Hernangomez who tallied 13 points and three rebounds heading into halftime. Hernangomez ended the night with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The offense was in the groove throughout the first half. Everybody in the starting lineup ended up with double figures.
Milwaukee did not have an answer to stop Derrick Rose in the 3rd quarter. Rose scored 10 points in the 3rd quarter and helped them take a 12-point lead until Milwaukee came back storming to go on a run to put them ahead by 3 to end the 3rd quarter (73-76). After Milwaukee went ahead in the third quarter they never looked back.
New York defense had a hard time containing Antetokounmpo. He ended the night with 34 points shooting 52 percent and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Carmelo Anthony told the media that the coaches not making any second half adjustments while the opponents feeding off the non-adjustments. Anthony was right. New York did not have any answers to stopping the Bucks.
After coming off a great win against the Magic, the bench was nowhere to be found tonight only tallying up 13 points. They got outscored by the Bucks bench by 25 points.
Knicks are now 5.5 GB from a playoff spot. Up next will be the Detroit Pistons on the road on Saturday night.
.@kporzee for ?! Close first half here in Milwaukee as we’re locked at 46-46. WATCH on @MSGNetworks! #NYKvsMIL pic.twitter.com/a9zeLLbcPG
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 9, 2017
.@carmeloanthony got the And-1! #Knicks have trimmed the Bucks lead to four. #NYKvsMIL #kNicks pic.twitter.com/D3DnGSCsnX
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 9, 2017
.@drose scores 26 but Antetokounmpo leads the 4Q charge for Bucks. @MajorEnergy Postgame Report ? #NYKvsMIL
[? https://t.co/DMemx2CDPg] pic.twitter.com/n4rtLXAPH1— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 9, 2017
Moose works KP on the block!! #OwnTheFuture pic.twitter.com/mGGtOHvZF8
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 9, 2017
The Greek Freak ? #OwnTheFuture pic.twitter.com/2pP76M3lIp
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 9, 2017
.@matthewdelly floats it in! The @Bucks are up early in the 4th quarter!
Watch on @fswisconsin, #FOXSportsGO https://t.co/Hg93OkIDf0 pic.twitter.com/JmLG9XyUqc
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) March 9, 2017
