Julius Randle had 29 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists, Elfrid Payton scored 27 points in his greatest sport as a Knick, and New York led by as a lot as 28 against the crew that had the very best report within the NBA the earlier two seasons.
The Knicks had been among the NBA’s worst throughout that time however are hoping for a turnaround beneath Thibodeau, the previous Coach of the Year who engineered comebacks in Chicago and Minnesota.
“So long as we’re placing the work into it, we’ll get higher,” Thibodeau mentioned.
The Knicks opened his tenure by hanging with Indiana and Philadelphia for a half earlier than these groups pulled away within the last two quarters.
This time, they used a 16-2 run late within the first half to open a 61-43 lead, then received 12 points apiece from Randle and Payton within the third to make it a 21-point lead heading to the fourth. The Knicks opened the final interval with seven straight points for a 103-75 bulge.
“We put good halves together in opposition to Indiana and final night time,” Randle mentioned. “We have simply received to place the second half, full sport together and that’s what we did tonight.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who had been coming off a 39-point trouncing of Golden State on Christmas and trying to construct momentum earlier than taking part in two straight games in Miami against the crew that eradicated them within the Jap Convention semifinals.
Groups are typically being scheduled for consecutive road games in a single metropolis this season as a approach to scale back touring through the coronavirus pandemic.
However after going 20 for 37 on 3-pointers Friday, the Bucks had been 7 for 38 (18%) behind the arc in opposition to the Knicks. In addition they allowed the Knicks to shoot 54% from the sector and 59% from 3-point vary.
“They’d an amazing night time shooting and we have probably received be loads higher defensively,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned.
Alec Burks scored 18 points and RJ Barrett bounced again from a poor efficiency against Philadelphia with 17 as the Knicks had loads of offense even with out injured rookies Obi Toppin (calf) and Immanuel Quickley (hip) for the second straight sport.
Frank Ntilikina had 12 points on 4-for-4 taking pictures from 3-point vary, making New York’s level guards 7 for 7 behind the arc. Payton made all three of his makes an attempt as a part of a 12-for-16 night time general.
“I feel everyone knows now we have to be higher,” Bucks reserve Bobby Portis mentioned.
TIP-INS
Bucks: Khris Middleton scored 22 points. … Jrue Holiday, who had 64% of his photographs in his first two games with the Bucks, shot 4 for 10 for eight points. … Portis, who performed for the Knicks final season, had 17 points.
Knicks: Thibodeau mentioned G Austin Rivers, who hasn’t performed this season due to a sore proper groin, has made progress and would undergo the contact portion of follow for the primary time on Monday. … Thibodeau mentioned he anticipated Quickley to have the ability to bounce proper again in when he was cleared, however thought Toppin would wish extra time due to the character of his damage prevents him from doing a lot while he is out.
PAYTON’S POINTS
Payton’s best sport last season, his first in New York, was 20 points. He opened 2020-21 by going 3 for 13 in two games.
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