For the third year in a row, the New York Knicks will play in the NBA Cup knockout stage, ousting defending champions Milwaukee Bucks and securing East Group C.
For the third straight year, the NBA Cup will change hands, and it was the New York Knicks who made sure the story took that turn.
Jalen Brunson torched the Bucks for 37 points, propelling the Knicks to the top of East Group C and into the knockout quarterfinals behind a 118-109 win on Saturday, November 29 (PH time).
With their tournament hopes on the line, New York powered through the second half and closed group play at 3-1 — a record good enough to move on.
The Knicks have now made the quarterfinals in all three editions of the NBA Cup, though they’ve been stopped in the same stage in each of the past two years.
Miles McBride and Josh Hart added 19 points each, as New York now heads to Toronto to face the Raptors for a win-or-go-home showdown for a spot in the semifinals.
After a narrow 92-88 lead entering the fourth, the Knicks opened the period with three consecutive triples to spark a 9-0 spurt that pushed the margin to 101-88 with 10:40 remaining.
Milwaukee answered with a 14-3 surge, highlighted by a baseline slam from Giannis Antetokounmpo, cutting the Knicks’ lead to 104-102.
And with the Knicks clinging to a 111-107 late, Brunson sank a dagger three-point play, extending the gap to 114-107 with 1:27 left, that paved the the way for New York to hold on for the win.
Antetokounmpo nearly recorded a triple-double in his return, finishing with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists after missing the previous four games with a groin injury.
Kyle Kuzma chipped in 20 points off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to keep Milwaukee alive in the tournament, as the Bucks finished group play at 2-2.
The loss also extended Milwaukee’s skid to seven straight, dropping their overall record to 8-12.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.