The Knicks have made mincemeat of the Milwaukee Bucks the last few years — even when Giannis Antetokounmpo has played, and with Giannis out, the Knicks’ eyes really lit up for this game on a Friday night in Milwaukee.
And then the Knicks lit up the scoreboard and lit up the Bucks for a resounding 127-98 pasting to quell the angst of having been soundly beaten by the Cavs 2 nights earlier in Cleveland. Meanwhile Cleveland lost to Detroit so NY went back into 3rd place ahead of them in the standings.
This Milwaukee Bucks team has been playing without Giannis for 13 games — and had gone 8-2 coming in, including a win over Cleveland in their last game, and wins over Miami and an injury-limited Oklahoma City before that. So this was no gimme on the schedule.
But NY took control late in the 1st quarter — on initial scoring forays by Josh Hart before Jalen Brunson took over with sharpshooting (22 pts in the period). In the 2nd it was more of that, and in the 3rd quarter OG Anunoby took over as NY built its lead to 20 pts and then to 30 pts in the 4th quarter as Karl-Anthony Towns started motoring to the hoop and splashing 3’s. Mohamed Diawara re-took his role as top forward reserve over Jeremy Sochan — and excelled with 10 pts in 23 minutes. NY’s defense stifled Milwaukee all night with OG and Hart and Bridges picking up steal after steal.
Brunson led NY with 27 pts on 11-17 shooting (4-6 from 3), while OG had 24 pts on 8-10 shooting (5-7 from 3) and 2 steals, KAT had 17 pts and 13 rebounds, Hart had 12 pts, Landry Shamet 15 pts, and Mikal Bridges 10 pts.
Myles Turner led Milwaukee with 19 pts, and Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis had 17 pts each. Giannis is out with a self-diagnosed “strained soleus muscle in his right calf”, which has also prevented him from being booed in Milwaukee after demanding a trade.
“Just knowing they’re a great team, coming out trying to get stops, playing fast, playing in transition,” said OG Anunoby afterwards about the Knicks’ mindset coming in. “Ball movement, shooting with confidence — we made shots today. That’s how it goes sometimes, you miss some shots, next game you make them — that’s how it goes. But just playing the right way, taking good shots, moving the ball, and everyone having confidence in each other.”
NY improves to 38-22, and are 7 back of Detroit and 1.5 behind Boston. Milwaukee falls to 26-32.
1. Hart, then Brunson Torch Bucks in 1st as Knicks Pull Away
Milwaukee jumped on top 8-4 when OG Anunoby stole the ball and fed Josh Hart for a 3, then Bridges stole the ball and fed Hart for a deuce that would begin a 10-0 Knick run, with Jalen Brunson splashing a 3 and a deuce on the backend.
things we love to see? this. pic.twitter.com/omCluRDh5T
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 28, 2026
Brunson continued to score from everywhere — 22 points in the 1st quarter — as NY pulled out to a 38-30 lead.
Jalen Brunson just dropped 22 PTS in Q1 🔥
It’s the most points he’s scored in a quarter all season! pic.twitter.com/PeVrlCDQZL
— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2026
2. Knicks Push Lead to 20 at the Half
Then Jose Alvarado came in for Brunson to start the 2nd — and the Knick tempo continued unabated. KAT joined the scoring with a deuce and then OG and Diawara hit back-to-back 3’s as NY extended their lead to 16 points at 46-30.
Jose Alvarado feeds Mo Diawara for three! pic.twitter.com/WNVILaCMaS
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 28, 2026
Alvarado pushed the pace, the Knick D was relentless — with Bridges picking up steals and blocks — and the Knicks shared the ball on offense, resulting in rhythm 3’s and team confidence. KAT at one point made a beautiful baseball pass to Shamet in the corner for a 3 and NY was up 53-36.
KAT with a DIME to Shamet for 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/J4Gnja4bB3
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 28, 2026
Milwaukee pushed back to within 10 pts with 5 minutes left on buckets by Turner and Kuzma, but NY pushed back — a 3 by Brunson off a Mitchell Robinson pass, a 3 by Shamet off an OG pass, an OG steal and bucket, and KAT jumper inside for 10 straight Knick points and a 20-pt lead at 68-48.
NY held a 77-57 lead at the half.
3. OG Takes Over in the 3rd
OG caught FIRE in the 3rd quarter — consecutive 3’s to start the period, and a deuce for 8 straight Knick points as he dueled Kyle Kuzma who was doing similar for Milwaukee.
OG stepback 💪 pic.twitter.com/491gRm1tlf
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 28, 2026
Mohamed Diawara came in and got buckets late in the quarter as NY maintained its 20-pt lead — 103-83 — heading into the 4th.
4. Knicks & KAT Push Lead to 30 in the 4th
Diawara continued to take it to Milwaukee to start the 4th — splashing a 3 then hitting free throws off a drive before another OG 3 put NY up by 24 early in the quarter.
Bridges joined the scoring forrays, and KAT started pounding the ball inside and then hit a 3 from outside as NY rolled out to a 32-pt lead at 122-90. The romp was on and the benches were emptied.
The Knick 3rd team came on for the last half of the 3rd — Ariel Hukporti hit Tyler Kolek for a 3 for the final NY bucket of the evening, putting them up 125-95 with 2:54 left.
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