Milwaukee @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 2, 2019 ) New York 88, Milwaukee 132

The Milwaukee Bucks rebounded from a rare loss by toppling one of the best teams in the NBA. They now set their sights on one of the worst when they pay a visit to the New York Knicks on Saturday.

After seeing its 18-game winning streak come to an end Monday against Dallas, Milwaukee bounced back by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 in a marquee matchup loaded with star power, including MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the Bucks with 34 points while making a career-high five 3-pointers. "No matter what team we play," Milwaukee guard George Hill told reporters, "we come in with the same mentality to get better that night on both ends of the floor, and it just happened to be the Lakers tonight." Milwaukee's most lopsided win of the season was a 132-88 rout of the Knicks, who are coming off a 15-point loss at Miami on Friday. Rookie R.J. Barrett was held to two points on 1-of-10 shooting in the loss three days after scoring 27 in a win over Atlanta.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (25-4): Antetokounmpo came out on top in a matchup with fellow superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and he knows the importance of that result. "I wasn't the No. 1 pick. [Anthony Davis] was. LeBron [James] was," he told reporters. "I wasn't supposed to be here. I'm not supposed to go against these two beasts, so I'm just happy that I'm here and happy that I'm going through the process, and I always want to be better, do better for my team, and that's what gives me joy." The reigning MVP entered Friday ranked second in the NBA in scoring (31.8), sixth in rebounding (12.8) and first in double-doubles (25).

ABOUT THE KNICKS (7-22): Barrett was part of a starting five that combined for only 35 points on 11-of-38 from the floor at Miami. The bench had a very different experience with forward Bobby Portis posting a season-high 30 points and center Mitchell Robinson finishing with 18 while making 8-of-9 shot attempts. Robinson, who had a season-high 14 rebounds in the recent loss to the Bucks, is averaging 20 points on 77.3 percent shooting over his last two games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Antetokounmpo needed just 22 minutes to produce 29 points and 15 rebounds in the earlier win over the Knicks.

2. New York PG Elfrid Payton had 29 consecutive assists without a turnover dating to Dec. 11 before finally committing one at Miami on Friday.

3. Milwaukee PG Eric Bledsoe (leg) has missed three straight games and is expected to be out at least another week.

PREDICTION: Bucks 121, Knicks 106