Towns, Knicks Bash Bucks at MSG

The New York Knicks got back in the win column with a dominant effort against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Nov 8, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

A visit from the reeling Milwaukee Bucks turned out be just what the Doc ordered for the New York Knicks.

The Knicks took advantage of a brief return home on Friday night, bashing Doc Rivers' Bucks by a 116-94 final. With the win, New York (4-4) got back to an even record and stopped a brief losing streak at two. All but one of the Knicks' four wins earned so far this season have come by at least 20 points.

From the get-go, it was clear that Karl-Anthony Towns had something special in mind for those gathered at Madison Square Garden, scoring 11 of the Knicks' first 17 points en route to yet another double-double, his seventh in a row. With Milwaukee looking to keep pace by placing Brook Lopez on him rather than the somewhat hobbled Giannis Antetokounmpo, Towns had 27 alone in the first half as the Knicks built a massive lead, finishing things off with 32 tallies and 11 boards. Jalen Brunson fell just short of joining him, scoring 15 points after a slow start to go with nine assists.

Nov 8, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls the ball against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Chastised for their lack of closing in the last two games, the Knicks made sure that was hardly an issue against a Milwaukee group coming off a home victory over Utah. Never losing the lead after Towns' early onslaught (which built a 19-point lead at halftime), New York led by as much as 30 and the Bucks (2-7) only came as close as half of that in the second half.

Each of the Knicks' five starters once again reached double-figures in a sterling showcase: though he missed all five of his attempts from deep, Brunson hit four of his last five the second half after starting 2-of-9 overall as his interior floaters provided an early dagger. Josh Hart flirted with a triple-double, fallling a rebound and three assists short while scoring 11 points before his early exit enforced by the one sided nature.

In relief, Miles McBride had 14 points with five rebounds while Tyler Kolek scored on 3-of-5 from the field en route to eight points and four rebounds in 16 minutes, all serving as infantile career-bests while he continues to serve as the injured Cameron Payne's replacement.

Milwaukee could hardly savor the end of an early six-game losing streak, done in by tough defense that forced only seven turnovers. Antetokounmpo led the way with a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double while Damian Lillard had 19 more. But the other three starters scored a combined 13 and the rebounding battle was a plus-7 advantage in the Knicks' favor, domming the beleaguered Bucks to their worst start since the 2013-14 campaign. The Knicks and Bucks are due for a rematch at MSG on Jan. 12.

The Knicks hit the road again over the weekend as they'll face the Indiana Pacers on Sunday late afternoon (5 p.m. ET, MSG).

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