Bucks at Knicks
THE STORY: Mike D’Antoni is calling his team’s recent play a
“crisis.” The New York Knicks have dropped four straight and will be
looking to rebound against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. New
York is coming off a 91-88 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday as
Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire combined for only 35 points on
12-of-44 shooting. Milwaukee is 0-8 on the road and off to its worst
start away from home since losing its first 16 games of the 1976-77
season. The Bucks also suffered their first home loss of the season on
Tuesday when they fell 105-95 to the Denver Nuggets. Brandon Jennings’
30-point performance wasn’t enough to overcome a 19-point halftime
deficit.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (4-9):
Scott Skiles didn’t use Andrew Bogut over the final 17 minutes after
the center had two points and five rebounds Tuesday. Skiles also benched
Stephen Jackson for the second half in the same game, leading to
speculation that the two were feuding after the game. Jackson missed all
six shots and had only two points in 17 minutes played in the first
half. After the game, Jackson said, “that he’d take the blame for the
defeat if that was Skiles’ intention.” New York might just be the right
place for Milwaukee to turn things around. They have won 10 of 12
meetings with New York and five of their last six in the Big Apple.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (6-8):
Despite an off-shooting night, New York cut a seven-point
fourth-quarter deficit to two with 25.2 seconds to play. Steve Nash,
though, made six free throws in the last 16 seconds and Iman Shumpert
missed a 3-pointer as time expired. Shumpert recorded a career-high 20
points on 8-of-14 shooting and added four steals to increase his total
to 25. Through ten games this season, Schumpert ranks second in the NBA
and first among rookies in steals.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Knicks have failed to reach 100 points in six straight games, their longest stretch with Anthony and Stoudemire together.
2. Carmelo Anthony averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in his three meetings against Milwaukee last season.