Knicks at Bucks
Jabari Parker takes the court for the first time in nearly 12 months when the Milwaukee Bucks host the New York Knicks on Friday. Parker has been recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee and will be looking to help Milwaukee bounce back from Thursday's 108-89 loss to Minnesota.
Parker was informed that he will play about 15 minutes in his return and the club certainly will monitor him closely due to two ACL tears in the same knee in a 26-month span. Parker, the second overall pick in the 2014 draft, posted career-best averages of 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 51 games last season prior to his latest misfortune. "I'm grateful for how far I came," he told reporters. "I'm grateful for the people who laid the foundation for me, especially the man above. From this point on, it's just not being complacent, not being satisfied and just keep on trying to be as good as I can be." The Knicks are coming off a horrific 103-73 loss to Boston on Wednesday - their largest margin of defeat this season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE KNICKS (23-29): New York is attempting to remain in the playoff race, but the woeful effort against Boston that included an eight-point fourth quarter in a contest in which Boston was missing star guard Kyrie Irving was disconcerting. The Knicks shot just 32.2 percent in the setback, and the point total was their smallest of the season. "There's going to be nights that you're not going to be good offensively, but I think for us to get to the next level, for us to be an elite team, just go out there and play defense," center Enes Kanter told reporters. "We cannot just say, 'Oh, we're not shooting the ball well,' and just give up on defense."
ABOUT THE BUCKS (27-23): Milwaukee had its four-game winning streak halted on Thursday and also lost shooting guard Malcolm Brogdon to a quadriceps tendon strain. Brogdon, last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, suffered the injury during a non-contact sequence while attempting a layup and left the arena in a cast while walking on crutches. All-Star small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who recorded 17 points and 15 rebounds against Minnesota, twisted his left ankle in the fourth quarter and is slated to be examined on Friday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Antetokounmpo averaged 28 points and 10.3 rebounds as the Bucks went 2-1 against the Knicks last season.
2. Milwaukee PG Eric Bledsoe (ankle) sat out against the Timberwolves and is doubtful for Friday's game.
3. New York G Ron Baker is sidelined indefinitely due to a torn labrum and dislocated shoulder.