The Knicks opened the ball for the 2024 edition of the “Christmas Games” with a benchmark victory at home, against Milwaukee. Already beaten three times by the Bucks this season, the Knicks did what was necessary at the start of the match to take the match from the right end. In front of a crowd that was still as hot for the occasion, Tom Thibodeau's troops quickly destabilized their opponent, mainly thanks to a particularly hungry Brunson-Barrett pair. So much so that the tandem scored the team's first 24 points (24-20)!
Immanuel Quickley and Julius Randle accompanied the duo to line up a 12-2 and create the first gap of the match (36-24). This rose to +13 at the start of the second quarter, until Milwaukee failed to stabilize, with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis as reinforcements to help the Lillard-Middleton-Antetokounmpo trio (56- 48).
An effort ruined in the last minute of the first half following 3-pointers in quick succession from Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle (62-51).
Milwaukee held on and even thought they had done the hard part after going 9-0 marked by an alley-oop concluded at high altitude by Giannis Antetokounmpo and a 3-pointer in transition from Pat Connaughton (77-73). But again, even the 13 points of the “Greek Freak” over the period were not enough to make the Knicks falter, who stayed the course thanks to the contribution of Josh Hart, author of four baskets at the end of the quarter. time including a dunk on the counter-attack to regain an 11-length lead for the locals (98-87).
This time the New Yorkers managed to hold on until the end, resisting the good passage of Khris Middleton thanks to the finishes near the circle of the Brunson-Hart-Grimes trio. In less than a minute, everything had to be done again for the Bucks (106-92). At the end of hope, Milwaukee's final run carried by the trio Lillard-Middleton-Antetokounmpo could not succeed, the fault of a precious floater from Jalen Brunson, MVP of the match, under pressure (126-118 ). And the Knicks were able to savor the victory a few moments later (129-122).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The fiery start of the Brunson-Barrett tandem. The two friends set the tone for the Knicks from the start, determined to offer the best Christmas present to New York fans. Aggressive towards the circle and skillful from afar, Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett scored 29 of their team's 36 points in the first quarter, including the first 24 points! The locals then knew how to resist until the end to achieve victory.
– End of series(s) for the Bucks. Undefeated against the Knicks after three confrontations, Milwaukee remained on seven consecutive victories and nine successes in their last ten games, but they will not have achieved the feat of winning a second time in a row at Madison Square Garden. Overwhelmed in intensity, the Bucks suffered enormously in the paint (72 points to 50), and this time could not count on the sole talent of Damian Lillard or Giannis Antetokounmpo to reverse the trend.
– The Knicks’ 24th “Christmas Win”. In front of an audience of stars, the Knicks won the 24th Christmas game in their history, equaling the record held by the Lakers. It's a small event for the franchise, which had lost 7 of its last 8 meetings for the holidays. It is also the franchise that lost the most at Christmas with 32 defeats, ahead of the Lakers (25).
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
