Freaky ending
Antetokounmpo beats buzzer as Bucks top Knicks
New York — Giannis Antetokounmpo beat the buzzer to spoil a Garden party.
The 6-foot-11 Milwaukee Bucks star backed down Lance Thomas and hit a dramatic 15foot step-back shot that left the Madison Square Garden sellout crowd gasping and the Bucks victorious, 105-104, over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
The Bucks won a video review with 8.6 seconds left after Antetokounmpo knocked the ball off Derrick Rose’s thigh and out of bounds.
Milwaukee went directly to Antetokounmpo on the inbounds pass, and he dribbled four or five times before hitting the game-winner. It was his first buzzer-beater and Antetokounmpo said he didn’t know how to react until his teammates started pounding on him and celebrating at midcourt. “I didn’t feel anything for the next 5 seconds until one of my teammates grabbed me,” Antetokounmpo said. “I was like, ‘Wow. Let’s go home. Let’s get out of here.’ But it feels good because everybody wanted this win so bad.”
Antetokounmpo finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and four assists as the Bucks (18-16) won their third straight and extended the Knicks’ losing streak to six games. Malcolm Brogdon had 12 points and eight assists, and Greg Monroe added 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Brogdon inbounded the ball to Antetokounmpo on the final play, and the Greek Freak was looking for Jason Terry to pop open. But when he didn’t, Antetokounmpo knew he could post up and get off his shot over the shorter Thomas.
It is a play Antetokounmpo has worked on countless times in practice sessions with assistant coach Sean Sweeney and the Bucks staff.
“I was patient,” Antetokounmpo said. “I knew I could shoot the ball over the top, and he was not going to block my shot. I just wanted to make sure I took the last shot.
“Moose (Monroe) was at the top. Thank God he dived and he gave me the space to go in my hot spot.”
Bucks coach Jason Kidd said the play shows how far Antetokounmpo has progressed.
“Giannis has a decision, looking for Jet (Terry) coming off a pindown,” Kidd said. “But it’s his ball and he made the decision to take the shot.
“That’s something he’s practiced. He’s going to play thousands of games. He’s had some early (game-winning) chances this season that haven’t gone down, but I thought he got to his strength and took his time. It wasn’t a rushed shot and he did the rest.”
The Bucks trailed, 8773, entering the fourth quarter but quickly got back in the game with a 14-2 run to start the period. Terry hit a pair of three-pointers and Monroe had six points during the run. Milwaukee never led in the second half until the final shot.
“That just shows our growth,” Monroe said. “Guys came in; they stuck with it. And at the end, Giannis hit a bigtime shot. I’m looking forward to chauffeuring him around my hometown during the all-star break.”
Monroe referred to New Orleans, where Antetokounmpo is clearly headed in mid-February for the NBA All-Star Game.
Jabari Parker added 15 points for Milwaukee and Mirza Teletovic had 13.
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks (16-19) with 30 points and Derrick Rose and reserve forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas added 15.
The teams played to a 52-all tie at halftime, but Anthony scored 14 points in the third quarter and New York took an 87-73 lead into the fourth quarter. Milwaukee trailed by as many as 16 points in the third quarter.
“We got lulled into their tempo, and that doesn’t work out very well for us,” Terry said. “But talk about Giannis and his growth. We’ve been asking for a closer and tonight he showed he can close.
“We had confidence in him. Coach drew the play up and he delivered. If you talk about a flower, he’s in bloom right now. The petals are starting to open up and it’s a joy to be around.”