Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before Friday's game that he was more focused on his team's dismal performance than worrying about growing pains the Knicks appear to have with two new starters so far. He said that
One of the players acquired, Karl-Anthony Towns, demolished Rivers' struggling team with 32 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes in the Knicks' 116-94 victory at the Garden.
Mikal Bridges, the team's other summer mainstay, scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half for the Knicks, who improved to 4-4 heading into Sunday's game at Indiana.
Jalen Brunson played 32 minutes, scored 15 points with no turnovers, and had a season-high nine assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and Damian Lillard 19 points for the Bucks (2 wins, 7 losses).
Tom Thibodeau's retooled team dropped four of its starting seven after back-to-back road losses to the Rockets and Hawks earlier in the week.
“I know the Knicks coach and I know he's going to put everything together. I'm confident of that,” Rivers said before the game. “Tom is a phenomenal coach, and they made changes. They made changes to their core lineup.
“It's not just that… Chemistry is a great thing. They had it last year and they'll get it back. It's not just about waking up and getting it. It takes time. It gives them It will come, I guarantee it.”
Of course, the Knicks made major changes to the composition and depth of their starting lineup by adding Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in the September trade for Towns and Minnesota.
They also acquired Bridges from the Nets, but lost starting center Isaiah Hartenstein to free agency, and center Mitchell Robinson was also unable to start the season due to injury.
Towns is clearly more offensive-minded than last year's center, with the four-time All-Star shooting 55.6 percent from 3-point range and averaging 24.3 percent in his first eight games played.
Still, with these personnel changes, the Knicks are also sacrificing one of last year's strengths: offensive rebounding and intelligent defense.
Asked about the Knicks' defensive metrics, Thibodeau said, “Some things are good and some are bad.” “We have a long way to go. We know we won't get there in one day, so we need to focus on daily improvement and strengthen some areas.”
Towns made 4 of his first five from the floor, including three straight from long range — despite the Knicks going 0 of 5 from the floor in the first quarter. They took an early 11-point lead on their way to a 32-25 advantage. Written by Branson.
OG Anunoby sank a 3-pointer and Towns drove the lane for a dunk to increase the lead to 50-37 midway through the second.
The Knicks led by as many as 19 points by halftime, as Anunoby picked off an errant pass from Antetokounmpo and fed it to Brunson for a layup.
This was Brunson's only bucket out of seven shot attempts through two quarters, but Towns ended the first half with 27 points as the Knicks held a 66-47 lead going into the break.
Bridges scored two goals from downtown and Brunson scored eight points in the third, keeping the Knicks' lead at 19 points in the final period.
