GAME REPORT

THREE TAKEAWAYS

1. Derrick Rose showed a spring in his step while helping the Knicks dominate the third quarter. Twice the former Chicago Bulls star made hard drives to the hoop and missed but drew the defense, allowing teammate Joakim Noah to make easy tip-ins. New York outscored Milwaukee, 35-21, in the quarter.

2. Bucks coach Jason Kidd gave Miles Plumlee a rare chance for first-half playing time, but the reserve center badly missed two easy layup attempts and lasted only 4 minutes before being replaced by John Henson in the second quarter. Greg Monroe continues to play the most minutes of the Bucks’ center trio.

3. Noah kept holding his shoulder and had to leave the game at one point in the fourth quarter, but he re-entered in the final 2 minutes to add to New York’s defense. Noah got a crucial offensive rebound to give the Knicks an extra possession late in the game.

UP NEXT

Teams: New York Knicks (16-19) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (18-16). When: 7 p.m. Friday (ESPN). Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center. About the Knicks: Jeff Hornacek is in his first year coaching the Knicks and trying to find an identity for a team that made plenty of changes in the off-season. Kristaps Porzingis missed Wednesday’s game with a sore left Achilles but could return on Friday in Milwaukee if he is able to practice Thursday.