Knicks like rest of NBA learn the Greek Freak can’t be stopped
MILWAUKEE — Ever since the Knicks released his brother Thanasis, Giannis Antetokounmpo has tortured the Knicks — and he did so again Friday night with a last-second driving lefty layup over Enes Kanter to give the Bucks a 92-90 victory at BMO Center.
After Kanter missed inside, the Bucks had the ball with 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. “The Greek Freak’’ dribbled down the clock and made his move down the lane, sinking his over the Knicks center while Kristaps Porzingis came over late.
It was only fitting the final desperation heave off the ensuing inbounds was by Tim Hardaway Jr., who had a terrible outing. Hardaway flung the ball up and missed badly, leaving him at 1-of-14 for the night. He was 1-of-10 in Boston on Wednesday, miring him in a certifiable funk.
With 1:05 left, Hardaway missed two free throws in a 90-90 game, but the ball bounced back to him. Unfortunately he didn’t pass and missed on a drive with one minute left. He finished with six points.
Hardaway also had three turnovers. With 7:30 left, he drove and threw a crosscourt pass that got intercepted. In the third quarter, he grabbed a rebound, then had it stolen for a Bucks layup.
For the past two games, Hardaway’s $71 million contract has looked worse than exiled Joakim Noah’s $72 million deal.
Porzingis didn’t come up big in the fourth quarter either, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting. He did have a rejection of an Antetokounmpo jumper. The Bucks All-Star finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds. He had once criticized the Knicks for not signing his brother after drafting him in the second round in 2014.
The Knicks have now finished a 20-game stretch in which 16 were on the road. They completed the make-or-break stretch still alive, going 6-14 — still not out of the playoff race at 23-30.
Kanter could barely talk before the game because of a new set of eight stitches in his lip. He did his talking on the court and wound up with 17 points and 16 rebounds.
Kanter had lacerated his lip in practice Monday, needing stitches. He reinjured the lip in Boston on Wednesday and needed more stitches, making it difficult for him to communicate with the media — which is his speciality.
Kanter kept the Knicks in it and had a double-double — 11 points with 10 rebounds, five of them offensive rebounds — in the first half.
A Frank Ntilikina-Kanter pick-and-roll resulted in a dunk for the Turkish center and a tied score at 74 after three quarters.
The Knicks trailed 45-37 after Antetokounmpo drove past Lance Thomas for an electric dunk after which Thomas screamed at the officials seeking an offensive foul.
On the next defensive possession, a furious Thomas blocked the Antetokounmpo’s drive, forcing a jump ball and the Knicks rallied on a 6-0 run.
After missing a full 12 months with two separate torn ACL surgeries, the Bucks’ Jabari Parker received a standing ovation when he checked in during the first quarter.
The ovation sparked him. Parker hit his first shot — a left-wing 20-footer — to another huge ovation and poured in 12 points in 9:48.