No Jalen Brunson, Deuce McBride, or Cameron Payne? No problem. (Well, at least for now, before the NBA playoffs commence.)
The 73rd game of the 2025-25 NBA season ended in a 116-107 victory for the New York Knicks. The Knicks stomped the Bucks in Milwaukee, notching their third win in the last four games.
March 28: Final
 |
 |
|---|---|
A couple of fresh point guards
Cameron Payne’s recent ankle injury forced him to miss the game. Joining Jalen Brunson and Deuce McBride on the shelf, Tom Thibodeau tabbed veteran Delon Wright as the starter.
Though the general consensus anticipated rookie Tyler Kolek to receive the start, Knickerbockers head coach Tom Thibodeau favored the veteran. Is anybody shocked here, seriously?
To Thibs’s credit, the 10-year NBA veteran was tremendous.
Wright finished with 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting and 4 assists to 2 turnovers. Playing 30 minutes, Wright asserted himself from the jump, scoring a quick 10 points.
In fact, Wright scored 10 of the Knicks first 14 points against the Bucks. Meanwhile, Kolek continued to turn heads with his court vision.
The Marquette product finished an incredible +18 in just 17 minutes. While he scored just 5 points, he did so on .500 shooting from the floor (2-4) and from beyond the arc (1-2).
Plus, as per usual, Kolek found the open man when New York needed him to do just that, finishing with 5 assists and no turnovers.
OG Anunoby leads the way
Incredibly, Karl-Anthony Towns scored just 14 points in this Knicks’ blowout victory. He shot just 6-10 from the field while mustering just one 3-pointer. KAT didn’t even lead the team in rebounding, with 10.
Josh Hart’s 14 got it done on the glass. Speaking of the new triple-double record king, he finished just two assists shy of yet another triple-double (13 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists).
No matter, though, because OG Anunoby continued his torrid scoring stretch.
Anunoby’s 31 points paced the Knicks. Shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe, the defensive stud continued to take impressive strides forward on the other end of the floor.
OG drilled three from beyond the arc, helping New York maintain its comfortable lead in certain spots.
The Robin to Anunoby’s Batman was Mikal Bridges, who went for 26 points on an efficient 12-24 from the floor.
Landry Shamet proves his worth
Perhaps the team’s greatest boost was another bench name. Not only did Landry Shamet contribute a sound 20 all-around minutes, but his catch-and-shoot game was on point.
Shamet drilled 3 of 5 from downtown, finishing with a beneficial 13 points. He also chipped in with 2 assists and a steal in what could be described as his best game of the campaign.
Shamet was one part of a collective team effort that limited Giannis Antetekounmpo to 30 points. And yes, “limiting” Giannis to 30 in this game is an accomplishment.
Without Damian Lillard on the floor, doing everything possible to make the rest of the Bucks come through in a big way was the game plan.
Next for the Knicks
Next up for the New York Knicks is a Sunday home game against the Portland Trail Blazers (32-42). It’ll mark the first of a three-game homestand at Madison Square Garden.
The 46-27 Knicks are three games clear of the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference. If the playoffs began today, New York would, indeed, take on the No. 6 seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
