It may not have been their best effort of the season, but the Milwaukee Bucks did what they were supposed to do Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Knicks entered playing dreadful basketball, winners of just two of their last 21 games. With Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert out with injuries, the Bucks were staring at a game they simply couldn't lose.
Milwaukee took control in the second quarter and held a comfortable advantage the rest of the way for a 95-82 victory over New York, which has now lost 11 consecutive games and 10 straight home games.
1 big moment: After Tim Hardaway Jr. hit a 3-pointer to cut Milwaukee's lead to seven with 9:17 to play in the third quarter, the Bucks rattled off an 8-0 run to take a 60-45 advantage.
The Bucks may not have turned the contest into a complete rout, but they also never let the Knicks fully back into the game.
2 top performers: Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded the fourth double-double of his career Sunday, finishing with 16 points and a career-high-tying 12 rebounds. With his older brother, Thanasis, in attendance, the 20-year-old extended his streak of games with multiple blocks to seven by rejecting two shots against the Knicks.
Hardaway Jr. returned after missing one game due to a concussion to lead the Knicks with 17 points, three rebounds and four assists.
3 key stats: Five Bucks scored in double figures, led by Brandon Knight with 17 points. Antetokounmpo and Zaza Pachulia chipped in 16 each, Kendall Marshall added 15 off the bench, while rookie Johnny O'Bryant scored 10 points.
Milwaukee has won four consecutive road games for the first time since winning five straight away from home in March of 2012.
The Bucks made just four of their 16 attempts from beyond the arc Sunday, their fewest made 3-pointers in a win this season. Milwaukee's 16 3-point attempts were two off its season low.
Said: "We turned the ball over. And then when they turned the ball over, we didn't capitalize. We pushed the lead and they would come back and make a 3-pointer. That kept them in the game. For us, we need to do a better job of taking away the 3." -- Bucks coach Jason Kidd on why the Bucks weren't able to pull away earlier in the game.
Seen: Pachulia recorded his second consecutive double-double Sunday with a season-high 16 points to go along with 14 rebounds. The veteran center is averaging 12.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in the six games since Larry Sanders left the team.
"It is all about opportunity," Pachulia said. "When we are sharing the ball, playing hard and playing together, opportunity is there. But it is all about winning games. I'm really glad we are progressing every day."
Next: The Bucks return home to face the Phoenix Suns at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Tuesday.
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