Jalen Brunson, Knicks Bash Bucks in Monumental Win

A Jalen Brunson masterpiece gave the New York Knicks a sterling win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Jan 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks bucked the trends and then some on Sunday afternoon-into-evening at Madison Square Garden.

Despite a relatively brief injury scare, Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks with an efficient shooting effort en route to a 140-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Sunday's win over the Bucks, the fourth-place team that sits just behind the Knicks on the current Eastern Conference leaderboard entering the weekend, was the Knicks' first over a current top-six team other than the shorthanded Orlando Magic since Nov. 25 in Denver.

Jan 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Brunson scored 44 points, his 17th career Knicks game with at least 40 to tie Carmelo Anthony for the third-most such outings in franchise history. The first 23 came in the opening dozen as the Knicks (26-14) set the tone early on, creating a lead they would never relinquish.

Brunson had to leave the game in the third quarter with an apparent shoulder injury that forced him into the locker room but returned to the floor to earn a dozen more before the game's one-sided nature allowed New York to empty the bench. Upon re-entering, Brunson was serenaded with chants of "MVP" from the Garden faithful as he restored some level of metropolitan sanity after Friday's nightmare against Oklahoma City.

Behind Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns had a 30-point, 18-rebound double-double while Josh Hart joined him in a serendipitous tally with 11 each in the same categories. Cameron Payne made the most of 14 minutes off the bench, earning 18 points through a 4-of-7 output from three-point range.

Having dropped four of their prior five, the Knicks (26-14) relished the chance to make something of a statement against the NBA Cup champion Bucks. Complementary basketball was back on display, as the Knicks had 29 assists on 51 successful shots. Eight different Knicks had at least two helpers, a stark contrast to recent losses against Orlando and Oklahoma City which saw them put up season-lows

Led by Hart and Towns, the Knicks also owned a plus-10 advantage on the offensive glass despite Giannis Antetokounmpo getting 13 to go with a team-best 24 points.

The Knicks' second win over the Bucks this was nonetheless kept close for most of the first half before one of Payne's triples just past the midway mark of the second opened up a double-figure lead. Appropriately, a Brunson buzzer-beater capped off a 20-12 run over the last 5:58. Between points of his own and assists, Brunson had a role in each of the Knicks' last 10 points of the half.

Thoughts of a Milwaukee were immediately dashed with a 17-3 run over the first 3:39, which included a pair of timeouts from Bucks head coach Doc Rivers within the first 102 seconds, stoppages that did nothing to stop Manhattan momentum. The Knicks won by their largest margin of the afternoon and also posted their best margin of victory at MSG since last January.

Jan 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) and forward Taurean Prince (12) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Sunday's loss ended a three-game winning streak for Milwaukee (20-17), which endured its worst loss of the season. Damian Lillard scored 22 points in an attempt to strengthen his All-Star case over Brunson while Khris Middleton had 16 points and five assists off the bench. The Knicks secured the season series victory over the Bucks, who host one more meeting in late March.

In the meantime, there's no rest for the Knicks, who immediately return to action Monday against the Detroit Pistons at home (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).

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