Nov 6, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks middle Karl-Anthony Cities (32) reacts after making a 3 level shot in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks through the second half at State Farm Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Dale Zanine-Imagn Photographs After a four-game highway journey, the New York Knicks return house on Friday trying to finish a two-game droop and going through a Milwaukee Bucks crew enjoying the second leg of a back-to-back set.
Milwaukee snapped a six-game skid on Thursday with a 123-100 rout of the visiting Utah Jazz. Damian Lillard scored 34 factors after placing up a mixed 77 factors in back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday and Monday.
Lillard has scored at the very least 33 factors in 4 of the previous 5 outings and at the very least 30 factors in 5 of the Bucks’ eight video games this season.
“Getting off to a tough begin, it is simple to get down on your self and begin to panic somewhat bit and fear,” Lillard mentioned in his postgame interview with FanDuel Sports activities Community Wisconsin. “Tonight, we simply got here out with the precise mentality.”
The Bucks’ different star can be enjoying nicely this season. Giannis Antetokounmpo is coming off of a 31-point, 16-rebound displaying within the lopsided win on Thursday.
Antetokounmpo missed the sport in Cleveland on Monday with an adductor harm, and his availability for the sport Thursday was introduced only some hours earlier than recreation time.
New York opened its highway journey with wins in opposition to the Miami Warmth and Detroit Pistons however slipped up in a 109-97 loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday and a 121-116 setback to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
Karl-Anthony Cities scored 34 factors in opposition to the Hawks. The All-Star ahead, acquired in an offseason commerce that despatched Julius Randle to the Minnesota Timberwolves, went for 44 factors within the Knicks’ win over the Warmth on Oct. 30 to start out the highway journey.
Cities’ effort Wednesday was not sufficient for New York to climate the Atlanta trio of Trae Younger, Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher combining for 79 factors. Risacher, the No. 1 general decide within the NBA Draft in June, erupted for a career-high 33 factors.
The Knicks have surrendered a median of 118 factors per recreation of their 4 losses this season. In three wins, New York has allowed 101 factors per recreation.
Regardless of his scoring efficiency, Cities took accountability for the Knicks getting beat in key areas corresponding to rebounding and defending the inside.
“One of many issues I’ve received to at all times do is instill vitality into the sport, and I got here out sluggish. I take accountability and accountability for that,” Cities mentioned after the loss. “These guys work extraordinarily arduous. Our guards are working tremendously arduous each night time with the matchups with the best way we’re enjoying protection. I’ve received to do higher.”
New York is permitting 51.4 factors within the paint per recreation this season after giving up 58 to Atlanta — and that has all been with no participant anticipated to be one of many crew’s key inside gamers.
Treasured Achiuwa has but to seem this season resulting from a hamstring harm. The 25-year-old submit participant averaged 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocked pictures per recreation in 49 appearances with the Knicks after being acquired from the Toronto Raptors through the 2023-24 season.
–Subject Degree Media
