Nov

2009

Knicks Lose 87-102

Written by BigC

From NBA.com -"MILWAUKEE (NBA.com exclusive) -- New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni had heard plenty of the buzz about Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings entering Saturday night's matchup at the Bradley Center.

After Milwaukee's 102-87 whipping of the Knicks, D'Antoni also learned quite a bit about Milwaukee's other rookie.

Second-round pick Jodie Meeks exploded for 19 points, including the first five 3-pointers of his career, as he and Jennings sparked a huge first half that led the Bucks to victory. Milwaukee led by a 66-35 count at the half and the lead was as big as 36 points in the third quarter before the Knicks chipped away in the final 20 minutes.

Andrew Bogut, the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, led Milwaukee with 22 points, and Jennings added 17 as the Bucks improved to 3-2.

When it was over, D'Antoni had a lot more to worry about than how his rookie compared to others. The Knicks fell to 1-6 with their third straight loss. Although they've lost by bigger final margins, it was safe to say it was their worst performance of the young season.

"I'm bothered by a lot of things," D'Antoni said. "It just seemed like they got into us and we were four steps behind them. I don't know if it was that they are that much faster than we are or that much more physical ... I don't know. And those are things we have to discover and figure out. But it is bothersome and it's not good."

The lead reached 73-37 on Jennings' driving layup.

While Jennings entered the game leading all rookies in scoring (18.8) and second in assists (4.8), Knicks rookie Jordan Hill -- taken two picks ahead of Jennings -- had seen action in just two of the Knicks' first six games, logging just seven minutes before Saturday.

Hill did log 12 minutes Saturday, posting seven points and six rebounds. But he was never a factor. Neither were any of his teammates.

A 3-pointer and another long jumper by Danilo Gallinari and a 3-pointer by Larry Hughes got the Knicks off to a quick start and a 10-4 lead as New York made its first four shots.

Then the roof caved in.

The Knicks committed six turnovers and missed their next seven shots.

Jennings scored seven points and Carlos Delfino hit two 3-pointers to start what would became a 28-4 Milwaukee run that made it 32-14. Meeks, the Bucks' second-round pick out of Kentucky back in June, hit a 3-pointer -- his first NBA trey -- late in that run and added two more in the final 45 seconds of the period as the Bucks held a 40-22 lead at the quarter.

"I kind of got into a rhythm," Meeks said. "I'm a shooter, so when you get that first one I had all the confidence in the world to knock down everything else. When I hit that first one it kind of got me going and then my teammates did a good job of looking for me." -NBA.com