The New York Knicks (23-29) head to the BMO Harris Bradley Center on friday night to take on the Milwaukee Bucks (27-23) for the first time this season.
Entering their last outing on a two-game winning streak, the Knicks put together a disappointing effort in a 103-73 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. They scored just eight points in the fourth quarter, and their 73 points easily set a new season-low (previous low was 84). Enes Kanter led the team with 17 points and 17 rebounds.
The Bucks had their four-game winning streak snapped when they fell 108-89 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
Milwaukee shot just 37.6 percent from the field and 20.7 percent from downtown. Khris Middleton scored 21 points in the loss, and Giannis Antetokoumpo had 17 with 15 rebounds.
Starting lineups (projected)
Knicks: Point guard - Jarrett Jack, Shooting guard - Tim Hardaway Jr., Small forward - Courtney Lee, Power forward - Kristaps Porzingis, Center - Enes Kanter
Bucks: Point guard - Eric Bledsoe (Matthew Dellavedova if Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon are unavailable), Shooting guard - Tony Snell, Small forward - Khris Middleton (Sterling Brown if Antetokounmpo is unavailable), Power forward - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Middleton if Antetokounmpo is unavailable), Center - John Henson
Stat leaders
Knicks: Scoring - Kristaps Porzingis 23.1, Rebounding - Enes Kanter 10.3, Assists - Jarrett Jack 6.1
Bucks: Scoring - Giannis Antetokoumpo 28.2, Rebounding - Giannis Antetokoumpo 10.4, Assists - Giannis Antetokounmpo 4.8
Known injuries heading into Friday's game
Knicks: Out - Ron Baker (shoulder), Joakim Noah (personal)
Bucks: Out - Mirza Teletovic (blood clots), Doubtful - Malcolm Brogdon (quadricep), Questionable - Giannis Antetokounmpo (ankle), Eric Bledsoe (ankle), Jason Terry (personal), Probable - Jabari Parker (knee)
Things to know and watch for
Jabari Parker is likely to make his season debut on Friday for Milwaukee as he has been sidelined with a torn ACL since last February.
The second overall pick in the 2014 Draft is expected to be on a minutes restriction of around 15. He was averaging 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season prior to the injury.
The Knicks (like many other teams) struggled to contain Giannis Antetokoumpo (questionable to play Friday with an ankle injury) last season.
In the three games against New York, the "Greek Freak" posted per game averages of 28.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.7 blocks, and 2.3 steals.
Rookie Frank Ntilikina has struggled mightily from the field for New York since the start of the new year. In 12 appearances in 2018, he is shooting just 17-54 (31.5 percent) from the field.
Knicks/Bucks over the years
The Knicks and Bucks have met 206 times in the regular season with Milwaukee holding a slight 105-101 advantage in the win column.
The Bucks won two of three meetings against New York last season. Friday will be the first of four head-to-head matchups this season between the two teams.
