The Milwaukee Bucks faced another setback as they lost to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This loss continues their concerning trend of struggling against the top three teams in the Eastern Conference, bringing their record to 0-8 in such matchups. Giannis Antetokounmpo highlighted the need for the Bucks to demonstrate a stronger competitive spirit, especially after a similar blowout defeat at the Garden in November.
Despite significant adjustments made since their November clash, the Bucks are now slightly above .500 with a 20-17 record. However, the Knicks took control of the game early in the third quarter, quickly outscoring the Bucks by 10 points within the first two minutes. Coach Doc Rivers attempted to halt the momentum by calling two timeouts during this period, but the efforts proved insufficient.
Jalen Brunson showcased an impressive performance for the Knicks, scoring 44 points and providing six assists. Despite suffering a right shoulder stinger in the third quarter, Brunson continued to play effectively. His teammate Karl-Anthony Towns also shone, contributing 30 points and securing 18 rebounds, proving to be a formidable force for the Knicks.
"We've gotta get our stuff together. It's as simple as that. We did not beat Boston. We did not beat the Cavs. We didn't beat the Knicks."
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo's frustration echoes throughout the team as they continue to fall short against elite competition. Damian Lillard also acknowledged the team's shortcomings against top clubs and emphasized the importance of strategic adjustments before the postseason.
"Those are the top three teams, and we've played horribly against them."
Giannis Antetokounmpo
"One year in Portland, we got our asses whooped every [regular-season] game by OKC. Then in the playoffs, we whooped their ass."
Damian Lillard
Lillard pointed out that while the Bucks' performance against the Knicks was an improvement compared to previous losses, their current record is far from ideal. He stressed that how the team adapts and prepares before the playoffs will be crucial.
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