The Milwaukee Bucks clinched a spot in The City of Neon’s semifinal round by shooting lights out against the New York Knicks.
Milwaukee minimized the drama of the NBA In-Season Tournament in the Eastern Conference’s latter quarterfinal, as they demolished the Knicks’ championship dreams to the tune of a 146-122 shellacking at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night. Milwaukee (15-6) hit over 60 percent of its attempts from the field, which included a blistering 23-of-38 output from three-point range.
With the win, the Bucks continued their perfect run through In-Season Tournament play after winning each of their four group games. Milwaukee now moves on to play in the Indiana Pacers in the semifinal round in Las Vegas with the winner of that Thursday game repping the Eastern Conference in the inaugural championship game.
The Bucks also continued their supreme mastery of the Knicks: Tuesday’s win was their eighth in a row over the Knicks and second this season after winning in group play on Nov. 3. New York and Milwaukee will also get together for Christmas, as the Bucks visit Manhattan for a doubleheader on Dec. 23 and 25.
Wasted in the effort was Julius Randle’s finest offensive output of the season: after shooting 5-of-20 in the first visit to Milwaukee, Randle hit each of his nine attempts in the first half en route to a 14-of-19 posting overall and 41 points. Randle’s early efforts helped the Knicks (12-8) keep pace in an over-the-top offensive shootout despite a quiet night from three-point range (7-of-23). Behind his perfect 24 minutes, the Knicks were down by only three at halftime, where Milwaukee led 75-72.
But whereas the Bucks found some semblance of a defensive crackdown in the second half, the Knicks were unable to stop Milwaukee’s barrage, one that proved historic in all the worst ways for the visitors: Tuesday marked only the fifth time that the Knicks gave up at least 23 three-pointers in their franchise history and the Bucks’ final tally of 146 was the worst they had given up since March 1979.
Six different Bucks reached double-figures on Tuesday night, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way with a 35-point, 10-assist double-double. Antetokounmpo proved to be well-healthy and then some after a brief medical scare in the opening period, when he rolled his ankle going for a rebound against Randle.
Malik Beasley had six triples while Damian Lillard hit 28 points while dishing out seven helpers. Bobby Portis and Cameron Payne each reached double figures in relief as the Bucks outscored the Knicks by 21 in the second half, allowing them to play all their reserves by the time all was said and done.
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