Jalen Brunson scored 23 points and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded another double-double as the New York Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-85 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory, according to Sportradar and the Associated Press. The defending champions outscored Milwaukee 32-13 in both the second and fourth quarters to turn a close game into a rout.
Brunson shot 7-of-18 from the field and made all eight of his free throws, according to Sportradar, and he reached 11,000 career points during the game, according to Statitudes' game notes. Towns had 21 points and 16 rebounds, his tenth straight double-double to open the season — only the third Knick ever to do that, joining Walt Bellamy and Willis Reed, according to the Associated Press.
OG Anunoby made five three-pointers and finished with 19 points, according to the Associated Press, as the Knicks took control with a 32-13 second quarter. Brunson and Anunoby closed the half with consecutive three-pointers to make it 58-34 at the break. Milwaukee fought back in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 85-72, but New York answered with another 32-13 quarter to close the game out.
The win lifts the Knicks to 6-4 on the season, according to the Associated Press, and they have now won six of seven games since an 0-3 start. Milwaukee fell to 1-10 with a seventh straight defeat.
New York hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, while Milwaukee welcomes the Los Angeles Lakers the same night, according to the Associated Press. The Knicks' bench also played a big part on Tuesday, helping New York dominate the glass and keep the pressure on after the starters built the lead.