All-Star big men Karl-Antony Towns (left) and Giannis Antetokounmpo could face off on Friday.
The New York Knicks (45-27) visit to the Milwaukee Bucks (40-32) on Friday (8 ET, League Pass). The Knicks have been treading water recently, going 5-5 in their last 10 games without Jalen Brunson, but they remain in sole possession of the No. 3 seed in the East. The Bucks have lost their last two outings, falling a half-game back from Detroit for the No. 5 seed.
Here are five things to know before tipoff:
- Knicks’ point guard dilemma: Jalen Brunson has missed New York’s last 10 games because of an ankle sprain, and they’ve been without Miles McBride for the last week due to a groin injury. Now it looks like Cameron Payne, who’s started the previous three contests, could miss time after he left Wednesday’s loss early with a sprained ankle of his own. That leaves coach Tom Thibodeau with 10th-year journeyman Delon Wright or rookie Tyler Kolek to start at point guard. Kolek has played heavier minutes recently and has averaged 8.0 assists and a steal in 18.8 minutes over his last three games.
- Towns shouldering the load: Karl-Anthony Towns has surge in his last five games, reaching the 30-point mark in three of them. In a little over 36 minutes a night, Towns is averaging 29.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals on 51.5% shooting. He’s recorded four consecutive double-doubles, also tallying his first triple-double (26 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) since the 2021-22 season in a win over Dallas on Tuesday. Towns and Josh Hart (16 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists) made history in the victory, becoming the first Knicks teammates to record a triple-double in the same game.
- Anunoby thriving in March: Knicks swingman OG Anunoby has had a stellar March as the playoff race heats up. In 13 games this month, he’s putting up 22.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.8 steals in 38.3 minutes per, shooting 46.4% from the field and sinking 40.0% of his 7.3 3-point attempts a night. He has scored 20-plus points in 10 of those 13 outings, including four in a row, all while defending the opposing team’s first and/or second offensive threat.
- Porter, Jr. starting for Bucks: Much like the Knicks, the Bucks are missing their star point guard in Damian Lillard, who is out indefinitely with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. Kevin Porter Jr., who was acquired from the Clippers in early February, received the starting nod in Milwaukee’s loss to Denver on Wednesday and played well. He posted 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in 30 minutes, and he’ll look to get his squad back in the win column.
- Antetokounmpo’s return to action: Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out Wednesday’s game due to a foot injury, but coach Doc Rivers expects the former Kia MVP to be ready to suit up on Friday. Milwaukee and New York haven’t met since the middle of January, but Antetokounmpo has not been his usual dominant self against New York. In two games against the Knicks, he averaged 24 ppg, 12.5 rpg and 1.5 bpg in 31.5 mpg, well below his season average of 30.2 ppg. However, he’s dropped 30-plus points in his last two appearances and he’ll be coming off three days’ rest as the Bucks try to avoid an 0-3 record against the Knicks this season.
