Giannis Antetokounmpo and the New York Knicks spent much of the offseason being linked together in trade talks.
On Tuesday night, each party will see how the other is faring when Antetokounmpo and the Bucks host the Knicks in the first meeting of the season between a pair of Eastern Conference contenders.
Both teams suffered their first defeats of the season on Sunday, when the visiting Bucks fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-113, and the Knicks lost to the host Miami Heat, 115-107.
The loss did little to diminish another brilliant game by Antetokounmpo, who shouldered an even larger load than usual with Cole Anthony (illness), Kyle Kuzma (left ankle) and Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle) all sidelined.
Antetokounmpo narrowly missed a triple-double and led all players in the game with 40 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. He has posted at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in each of the Bucks’ first three games. Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic are the only other NBA players to start a season with three consecutive 30-10-5 games.
The historic nature of Sunday’s performance was of little consolation to Antetokounmpo, who lamented the near-miss against another Eastern Conference power. The Cavaliers earned the top seed in the East last season by going 64-18.
“It’s definitely one of the games, if you fight this hard, you want to leave this place with a win,” Antetokounmpo said. “And you can put in the back of your head that Kuzma, ‘Scoot’ (Porter) and Cole were not playing tonight and we were still able to be close in the game. But that’s not who we’re going to be this year.”
The one-man show served as a reminder that the Bucks have won just one playoff series since 2021, when Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to its first NBA title since 1971.
After the Bucks suffered a third straight first-round exit last spring, the Knicks reportedly contacted Milwaukee about a trade for Antetokounmpo. New York has made a series of all-in moves over the last two years, acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby in three separate deals, and then firing Tom Thibodeau in June after he guided the franchise to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.
Despite a 2-1 start, vulnerabilities have appeared in the Knicks’ roster construction. Center Mitchell Robinson has yet to play while dealing with a chronic left ankle injury, while Josh Hart has been limited to 48 minutes over two games because of back spasms. Towns is averaging 20 points and 14 rebounds, but has been listed as questionable before all three contests due to a right quad injury.
And, similar to the Bucks, the Knicks lost Sunday despite an all-around effort from their superstar. Jalen Brunson collected a game-high 37 points and seven assists.
Brunson was 14-of-26 shooting, including 5 of 11 from 3-point land. The rest of the Knicks were 24 of 72 from the field, including 10 of 43 from beyond the arc.
Overall, this season, New York is shooting 40% and 33.1% from long range — down from 48.6% and 36.9%, respectively, last season.
“Of course you’re happy you’re getting good looks, but at the same time you’re frustrated as hell that you’re not making them,” Towns said. “We haven’t shot well at the start of this season.”
