Knicks spoil opportunity to steal game against the Bucks, lose 109-103 at MSG
The Knicks had them on the ropes.
It was an unexpected turn of events since the opponent at MSG, the Bucks, are the elite of the Eastern Conference and a legitimate title contender. But the scrappy Knicks had the golden chance late Wednesday with Giannis Antetokounmpo fouled out and Jalen Brunson at the foul line.
But they blew it.
Brunson missed one of his foul shots with 48 seconds remaining, and Grayson Allen followed with the biggest shot of the night — a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining to break the tie — allowing the Bucks to escape with a 109-103 victory.
Despite losing for the sixth time in the last seven home games, the sentiment was mostly positive in New York’s locker room. The Knicks (10-12) took it as a moral victory.
“We’re right there. We’re fighting,” Brunson said. “That’s one of the best teams, if not the best team in the league. They’re well-coached. They have a future Hall of Famer. We fought.”
Antetokounmpo, the future Hall of Famer, was dominant with 37 points, seven assists and 13 rebounds, but he committed his sixth foul with one minute remaining and the Bucks leading by two.
Brunson, who entered the night shooting 90% from the charity stripe, called his missed shot “terrible” before repeating the word in Spanish.
“Terrible.”
RJ Barrett also missed a potential tying trey in the final 30 seconds. The clutch bucket never arrived and the Knicks, who hung around longer than expected but left with yet another defeat against a superior opponent.
“You just can’t be discouraged. There’s going to be a lot of negativity,” Brunson said. “There are going to be a lot of people saying, ‘You should be doing this, you should be doing that.’ Outside this locker room. It’s impossible not to see it. It’s just how it is in today’s world. For us, we have to continue to stay the course. …Can we click at the right time? Can we make a run and be a better team. I think we have the ability to do that. It’s just not our time yet.”
Robinson dominated the glass with 20 rebounds — including 11 offensive — and Barrett was efficient until the fourth quarter. But they were again missing the closer, just like Sunday’s home defeat to the Grizzlies.
“You look at clutch shooting — I think Jalen’s sixth in the league,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I love the shots that he’s getting. Sometimes you just fall short.”
It was a rough start Wednesday for Brunson, who landed awkwardly on the opening possession and retreated to the locker room. Brunson re-emerged later in the first quarter but never found a rhythm, even before missing the pivotal free throw.
“I told [teammate Julius Randle], ‘I played like a—,’” Brunson said.
The Knicks were playing on the second night of a back-to-back after traveling Tuesday night from Detroit. They’ve fallen to every legitimate star they’ve faced this season – Ja Morant (twice), Antetokounmpo (twice), Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (split two games), Devin Booker and Steph Curry.
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