Wednesday 26 December 2018 06:17, UK
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 11 of his 30 points in the third quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks seized control in the third quarter and recorded a 109-95 Christmas Day victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
Antetokounmpo recorded his 13th 30-point game and added 14 rebounds for his 22nd double-double but it was his performance in the third that helped the Bucks win for the fifth time in six games.
His 30 points also made him the first Milwaukee player to score 30 on Christmas Day since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1972.
Coming off a season-low nine points Saturday in Miami, Antetokoumpo made 5-of-6 shots in the third when the Bucks shot 65 per cent (15-of-23) and outscored New York 36-22. He hit two lay-ups, converted a dunk and hit two jumpers during the decisive quarter and helped the Bucks avenge a 136-134 overtime loss in New York on December 1 when they blew a 16-point lead.
Brook Lopez added 20 points as the Bucks shot 54.7 per cent and outscored the Knicks 61-49 in a flawless second half.
Malcolm Brogdon contributed 17 while Thon Maker chipped in 12 to help Milwaukee compensate for a rough showing by Khris Middleton, who shot 2-of-12.
Rookie Kevin Knox scored 21 points for the Knicks, who dropped their sixth straight Christmas Day game since beating Boston in 2011. Knox shot 8 of 20 as New York shot 36.5 per cent, lost their fifth straight and 10th in 11 games since the overtime win over Milwaukee.
After holding a 48-46 lead in a ragged first half, the Bucks took control early in the third.
Antetokounmpo scored six points in the first 4:19 of the third and gave Milwaukee a 62-54 advantage on a thunderous dunk with 7:41 left following a steal by Brogdon. A little over two minutes later, the Bucks took their first double-digit led at 69-58 lead on a transition hoop by Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee expanded their lead to 77-61 when Sterling Brown hit a three-pointer with two-and-a-half minutes remaining, breaking a string of 17 straight missed three-point shots.
A dunk by Maker, a corner three by George Hill and another basket by Maker helped take Milwaukee to an 84-68 lead entering the fourth.
Antetokounmpo returned with 8:25 remaining when Milwaukee held a 90-75 lead and the advantage was never below the 13 the rest of the way.
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