Knicks Beat Bucks 117-85 Behind Brunson and Towns

The New York Knicks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-85 on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at Madison Square Garden, with Karl-Anthony Towns delivering 21 points and 16 rebounds. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 23 points as New York improved to 6-4 behind a 59-32 rebounding advantage.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Knicks Establish a 26-21 Lead

New York finished the opening quarter ahead by five points. Milwaukee stayed within reach, but the Knicks established an advantage they would expand significantly before halftime.

Second Quarter: New York Builds a 24-Point Cushion

The Knicks outscored the Bucks 32-13 in the second period, taking a 58-34 lead into halftime. That 19-point quarterly advantage gave New York control, while Milwaukee managed just 34 points across the opening 24 minutes.

Third Quarter: Milwaukee Cuts the Deficit

The Bucks responded with their most productive stretch, scoring 38 points while holding New York to 27. Milwaukee reduced its deficit to 85-72 entering the fourth, leaving the Knicks with work to do despite their substantial halftime lead.

Fourth Quarter: Knicks Pull Away

New York answered with another 32-13 quarter to secure the 32-point victory. The Knicks held Milwaukee to the same scoring total in the second and fourth periods, outscoring the Bucks 64-26 across those two quarters.

Key Performers

• Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: Delivered 21 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, anchoring New York’s considerable advantage on the boards.
• Jalen Brunson, Knicks: Led all scorers with 23 points as New York finished with 117.
• Tyler Kolek, Knicks: Recorded four assists as part of a team effort that produced 26.
• Jaime Jaquez Jr., Bucks: Led Milwaukee with 16 points and five rebounds.
• Ryan Rollins, Bucks: Added 14 points.
• Kasparas Jakucionis, Bucks: Recorded four assists for a Milwaukee team that finished with 20.

NerdSports Stat: Two-point baskets and free throws accounted for 29 of New York’s 32 points of separation. The Knicks outscored Milwaukee 46-28 on two-pointers and 20-9 at the line, while their advantage from beyond the arc was just three points.

Game Analysis: Rebounding and Two-Point Scoring Make the Difference

The three-point totals were close: New York made 17 of 44 attempts, while Milwaukee went 16 of 44. The Knicks shot 38.6% from deep to the Bucks’ 36.4%, but that modest difference did not explain the final margin.

Instead, New York created separation elsewhere. Its 59-32 rebounding advantage included 16 boards from Towns alone. The Knicks also attempted 10 more field goals, finishing 40-for-89 overall compared with Milwaukee’s 30-for-79. New York shot 44.9% from the floor; Milwaukee finished at 38.0%.

The free-throw line added another clear advantage. Milwaukee converted an efficient nine of 10 attempts, but New York earned 25 attempts and made 20. The Knicks’ greater volume produced an 11-point difference despite their lower conversion rate of 80.0%.

Milwaukee’s 38-point third quarter showed it could generate offense, but the Bucks could not sustain that production. Their combined 26 points in the second and fourth quarters allowed New York to establish its lead and then close comfortably.

Closing Context: Knicks Improve to 6-4

New York moved to 6-4 overall and 4-2 at home, while Milwaukee fell to 1-10 and remained winless on the road at 0-5. Both Eastern Conference teams return to action Wednesday, November 11: the Knicks face the Cleveland Cavaliers at 4:00 p.m. PST, and the Bucks face the Los Angeles Lakers at 5:00 p.m. PST. New York will look to carry its rebounding and balanced production into the second game of a back-to-back; Milwaukee needs a more consistent four-quarter offensive performance.

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