Hensen scores 22, Bucks beat New York Knicks 99-92
NEW YORK (AP) - The Milwaukee Bucks bent but never broke on Friday night.
John Hensen scored 22 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 20 to lift the Milwaukee Bucks to a 99-92 win over the New York Knicks.
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 17 points. Derrick Williams had 15 and Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Milwaukee scored the first four points, opened up a game-high 14-point lead in the second quarter and withstood several Knick rallies for pick up the victory.
"I never really knew if we gave up the lead or not," said Bucks coach Jason Kidd. "For me, it's just continue to keep fighting even if we gave up the lead. We've been in some close games so far, so this we can lean on."
The Bucks opened up a 44-30 advantage on Jerryd Bayless's 3-pointer with 7:35 left in the second quarter.
The Knicks then went on a 23-10 run, capped by Langston Galloway's 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the half to pull within 54-53. Hensen scored in the final second to give the Bucks a 56-53 halftime lead.
The Bucks led 75-73 after three quarters before Lance Thomas tied it with the first basket of the fourth. Hensen followed with two free throws and a basket, but Williams knotted it up at 79.
After another tie at 81, Milwaukee scored the next seven points and went ahead 95-86 on Khris Middleton's 3-pointer with 1:57 left. The Knicks pulled within 95-90, but Middleton hit two free throws with 19 seconds left and New York never got closer.
"We stayed together, man," Hensen said. "We had some tough times, tough parts where they tied and we just kind of fought it out. That's what we're supposed to do."
"There's little things that I didn't do well to help us finish the game well," Porzingis said. "I was expecting a better game from myself. I take a lot of responsibility for what happened."
Middleton finished with 13 points and Johnny O'Bryant III had 11. Galloway scored 13 points and Robin Lopez finished with 12 for the Knicks.
"We need to find five guys collectively who can finish out the game," said Knicks coach Derek Fisher. "We've got to figure out how to win any way possible."
TIP-INS:
Bucks: After opening the season 3-0, Milwaukee has won three straight. ... Hensen had missed four straight games with a sore left Achilles. Both of his appearances this season have been against the Knicks.
Knicks: The Knicks have lost all three of their home games this season (Atlanta, San Antonio, Milwaukee). They hadn't started 0-3 at home since 2006-07.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: After hosting Brooklyn on Saturday night, the Bucks will have played four of their first seven games against New York City teams, completing home-and-home series with the Knicks and Nets.
OPENING ACTS: After six games, only two Bucks (Middleton, Greg Monroe) have been in the starting lineup for each one, while the Knicks have had the same five players (Anthony, Porzingis, Lopez, Jose Calderon, Sasha Vujacic) on the floor for each tipoff.
MISSING THE MARK: Anthony shot 6-16 from the field and is now 16-51 (.314) over his last three games. He went 1-3 from 3-point range and is 1-10 (.100) in his last two games.
UP NEXT
Hawks: Milwaukee hosts Brooklyn on Saturday.
Knicks: New York hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.