New York looks to get back to winning aways after being punched in the mouth on Friday.
The first ten days of 2025 have not been as bountiful for the Knicks as 2024 was. After going 56-27 (not including 7-6 in the postseason) in the most successful year for the franchise in over a decade, the Knicks have started 2025 just 2-4. The four losses have come in entirely different ways.
Their streak-ending loss in Oklahoma City was a blown double-digit lead as the exceptional Thunder defense shut down the Knicks’ offense and their role players lit it up from three late.
Their defeat in Chicago the next day was on an emotional night for the city, where Coby White and Zach LaVine scorched the Knicks in a horrific 41-17 third quarter. Chicago shot 54% from 3, the Knicks shot… 27%.
Their loss to Orlando was a complete offensive meltdown without KAT, as the worst shooting team in the NBA had made over twice as many threes as the team that entered play 2nd in 3PT%.
And lastly, their loss on Friday in MSG was a demolition, as OKC completed the season series sweep with a dominant performance, buoyed by a 30-ball from Isaiah Joe of all people.
A constant throughout these different games has been awful shooting, a trend that must be reversed to get back on track.
Through Christmas Day, the Knicks were second in the NBA with an elite 39.8% clip from downtown, albeit on subpar volume with just 36.3 3PA.
Since Christmas? The Knicks are shooting an NBA-worst 28.5% from 3. Just as bad is their league-worst 30.9 3PA in that span. So, not only are the Knicks missing their shots, but they’re losing confidence in them.
Another awful shooting game won’t cut it against the Milwaukee Bucks (20-16). In fact, more than that needs to change.
The Bucks enter tomorrow with the new second-best 3PT% in the NBA at 38.8%. While the Knicks are also heavily slumping from 3, they’re allowing teams to shoot 40% from three in their past ten games. If we get another game of bad shooting and even worse defense, the odds the Knicks are upbeat in the locker room today are minimal.
After falling to Boston on November 10, the Bucks entered the first NBA Cup game with a dreadful 2-8 record. They proceeded to go ballistic for the next month, winning nine of ten and running the table to win the NBA Cup over the OKC Thunder, allowing just 81 points in the final. They are 6-5 since, partially due to minor injuries to their core.
Season Series
The Knicks took advantage of a lost Bucks squad in early November, obliterating them 116-94. Despite mediocre shooting (14-for-46 from 3), the Knicks shut down the Bucks’ offense, holding Giannis Antetokounmpo to 24 and Damian Lillard to 19.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 32-11-5 stat line, while five other Knicks scored at least eleven. Notably, Tyler Kolek received a season-high sixteen minutes in a game that was over after three quarters. Cam Payne and Precious Achiuwa were out for New York, Khris Middleton for Milwaukee.
Projected Starters
Damian Lillard is enjoying another great season, averaging 24.9 points and 7.4 assists on 44/38/92 splits. Although he was held to nineteen points in the first meeting, he’s fully capable of big games of his own, scoring 30+ eight times and 40+ once.
Andre Jackson Jr. will likely start again tonight, but not as a traditional starter. He’s a defensive specialist who will be hounding Brunson as long as his leash is. In two games since replacing Khris Middleton in the starting lineup, he’s scored zero points in a combined 24 minutes. He hasn’t played a single second in second and fourth quarters.
Taurean Prince was signed away from the Lakers in the offseason, with he and Darvin Ham (now an assistant coach under Doc Rivers) repeating as NBA Cup champions. Prince made just one shot against the Knicks in November, but can be a weapon against a defense struggling to close out on the perimeter. Prince is averaging just 7.3 PPG, but is shooting 45.1% from 3. 63.8% of his shot attempts this season are from behind the arc.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been, currently is, and forever will be a freak of nature. The two-time NBA MVP is averaging 31.7 points a game on 60.2% from the field. He’s cutting out the only negative in his game, shooting a career-low 0.7 threes per game. He’s improved his jumpshooting (now 46% in the mid-range) and shoots an unstoppable 71% at the rim, which is somehow worse than Josh Hart’s clip. Giannis will be in contention for a scoring title and another MVP, and even though he’s not shooting as many threes anymore, they should still respect his shot. His 34.7 3PT% vs the Knicks in his career is his best mark against any Eastern Conference opponent.
Brook Lopez is currently trying to stave off Father Time. He’s averaging under 13 PPG for the second straight season, but he’s still shooting 49% from the field and 37% from 3. He’s been on a heater as of late, averaging 15 points on 52/41/86 splits in his last twelve games.
Prediction
Lot could happen here. The Bucks have shooting. AJ Green, Taurean Prince, and Damian Lillard could make our lives a living hell if left open and a rout could be in order if something similar to Friday occurs. That said, the Knicks have way to much shooting talent to discount them. If the extra minutes are that big of a deal, maybe the blowout getting the starters off their feet helps them!
Count on Mikal Bridges to score at least one point today and to pull this one out, the Knicks need the trio of Deuce McBride, Cameron Payne, and Landry Shamet to bust out of their respective shooting slumps to make their minutes viable. 119-110 Knicks.
Injury Report
Bucks:
OUT – AJ Johnson, Chris Livingston, AJ Johnson (G-League)
Questionable – Gary Trent Jr. (hip)
Probable – Giannis Antetokounmpo (patella), Damian Lillard (calf), Khris Middleton (ankle)
Knicks:
OUT – Mitchell Robinson (ankle), Kevin McCullar Jr. (two-way), Pacome Dadiet (G-League)
Probable – Deuce McBride (hamstring)
Game Details
Date: Friday, January 12, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: MSG
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