Short-Staffed Knicks Can’t Keep Up

MILWAUKEE — At full strength, it would be a challenge for the Knicks and their first-year coach, David Fizdale, to come up with a plan to slow down the Bucks and their rising star, Giannis Antetokounmpo. But their own highly regarded rookie, Kevin Knox, was back in New York, trying to heal a sprained left ankle.

Just as they did against Boston, the Knicks scrapped and fought back. And just as they did against Boston, they came up short, unable to find anyone nearly good enough to counter Antetokounmpo. The result was a third straight loss for the Knicks as they fell, 124-113, at Fiserv Forum.

Antetokounmpo, who finished with 31 points and 15 rebounds, was doing just what you’d expect most of the night and still, the Knicks were hanging in the game.

Trailing by 19 points at halftime, they cut the gap to one by the end of the third quarter in which they outscored the Bucks 35-17. And in the fourth, the Knicks actually went ahead by a point.

But every time the Knicks delivered a huge shot Antetokounmpo countered.

There were two dunks early in the fourth quarter and then he fed Malcolm Brogdon for a corner three. But the Knicks answered with Trey Burke pouring in 13 third-quarter points and then Mario Hezonja chipping in with 13 of his 18 points in the second half.

Noah Vonleh briefly gave the Knicks a onepoint lead with a follow with 9:28 to play, But the Bucks, who improved to 3-0, came up with a counter to every Knicks push. With the score tied at 110 after a Tim Hardaway Jr. 3-point field goal, Brook Lopez converted a 3-point play.