Bucks, Giannis blow past Knicks and into In-Season Tournament semifinals

MILWAUKEE — The New York Knicks and Quentin Grimes have a problem. Now, it’s up to both sides to fix it.

The seldom-used Grimes groused about his role following Tuesday’s 146-122 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, which eliminated the Knicks from the In-Season Tournament.

"It's just hard when you go the whole first quarter without touching the ball, the whole second quarter without touching the ball, and then you get one shot and you got to make it," Grimes said. "So it's tough going out there and just standing in the corner the whole game, then you got to make the shot when you shoot the ball one or two times per game."

Read the rest of my story from last night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's stat line wasn't as impressive as Julius Randle's (41 points on 19 shots), but it felt like the Bucks' superstar scored so easily against the Knicks. These highlights prove it.

No surprise, but Tom Thibodeau was most frustrated with the Knicks' defense after the game. The Knicks coach said he thought no one played well, and was especially down on the way the team guarded the 3-point arc. The Bucks shot 23 of 38 from deep and consistently got to the paint against New York all night.

A blowout victory seems to bring out Giannis Antetokounmpo's humorous side. During his walkoff interview with TNT's Jared Greenberg, Giannis:

• Deadpanned a response about heading to Las Vegas.
• Downplayed the trip because he'd be away from family. (Well, except Thanasis)
• Claimed not to know that each Bucks player is now guaranteed $100,000, with a chance at winning $500,000.
• Followed up with "rich get richer."
• Refused Grant Hill's request to bet on black in roulette because he only plays "34 red."

I admit: I laughed.

I have no idea how to analyze this game anymore. The Bucks' strategy of hitting every 3-pointer they take is working out wonderfully. Milwaukee is now 21 of 33 from deep. It's 41 of 72 (57 percent) from deep during the two games against the Knicks this season. Milwaukee is now plus-45 from beyond the arc, considering the Knicks have made only six deep balls. You'll win a lot of games that way.

I’m not sure the Knicks' Julius Randle-centric offense is conducive to having everybody involved when they need to knock down shots in rhythm, even if he was brilliant in the first half. With the way the Bucks are shooting, maybe it wouldn’t matter anyway.

Malik Beasley has really put together an unbelievable season from behind the 3-point line this year. Coming into tonight's game, he was hitting a career-high 45 percent of his 3-pointers while attempting 6.5 per game. Tonight, he's 4 of 7 from deep. His latest triple just gave the Bucks a much needed cushion after the Knicks had clawed their way back into this game early in the fourth quarter.

I'll put words in the mouths of everyone viewing this page.

We all assumed the Bucks would start missing shots, and that when they did, they would have to find a way to slow down the Knicks. I don't think any of us considered that they would keep making this many jumpers.

And yet, it's happening. The Bucks just won the third quarter by 13. They're shooting 63 percent from the field.

The Knicks have had better nights on defense, no question. But this is also a remarkable offensive performance by Milwaukee.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has, of course, been great all season, but this game feels like the first one in 2023-24 where his gracefulness has popped off the screen. Maybe I'm just not watching the Bucks closely enough every night. But it sure seems like the Bucks have figured out ways to give him the space to show off the athleticism of his younger self.

Khris Middleton throwing this lob to Giannis Antetokounmpo on that sideline out of bounds play is absolute comedy at this point.

It's not even a play. Just a decade-long connection with a great passer and a great finisher.

Middleton moved Damian Lillard to the nearside corner, then pushed Lopez (and Mitchell Robinson) to the weakside wing. Then, he faked the pass to Lopez, moved the safety and threw the lob.

The Bucks' mascot just hit an over-the-head halfcourt shot with his back turned to the basket. No one in Milwaukee colors can miss a jumper tonight.

The Knicks are trapping Damian Lillard's pick-and-rolls, which is not their usual coverage. It makes sense, on some level. But it kind of falls apart when the Bucks make every semi-open 3.

Wild stat from TNT's Kevin Harlan: this game has combined for the highest field goal percentage of any game this season. The defenses clearly aren't in In-Season Tournament form. Or maybe the offenses are just too good. (I vote the latter).

Before tonight's game, I asked Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau to explain what makes Damian Lillard so good at drawing fouls. He told me it all starts with the threat of Lillard's 3-point shot.

Lillard used that threat to draw six free throws in the second quarter. On top of that, he made all four of his 3-point attempts in the first half. He leads the Bucks with 19 points and four assists at halftime.