MILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points and 15 assists, Khris Middleton sank a pair of late 3-pointers and the Milwaukee Bucks survived a furious second-half rally by New York to hold off the Knicks 124-113 on Monday night.

Middleton was efficient in scoring 30 points, going 7 of 8 from 3-point range. Antetokounmpo only had one 3, but it came in a big spot, giving unbeaten Milwaukee the lead for good midway through the fourth period.

Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Knicks with 24 points. Trey Burke added 19 and Mario Hezonja had 18. >> Read more

.@wholeteamDot got his ☔ tonight pic.twitter.com/TOqXYWyaGa
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 23, 2018

Back 🚪 finesse. pic.twitter.com/hY98dVzFDH
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 23, 2018

.@NoahVonleh with 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/MKp6ZcvQRQ
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 23, 2018

Jake Brown | Twitter |

Another night and another valiant effort that fell short for the Knicks. After what was an awful first half, where the Knicks played way too much iso ball and no defense, they completely flipped the script in the third quarter. They moved the ball, Trey Burke lit it up offensively, and they played strong defense to get the game within one. It was odd that Coach Fizdale didn't put him in the game earlier in the fourth quarter after what he did in the third. They need Burke's offense down the stretch in these close games. They would take the lead in the fourth quarter in what became a back and forth affair, but the Bucks put the dagger in the Knicks in the final three minutes, knocking down three after three after three.

There were some bright spots tonight, though. Mario Hezonja gave the Knicks a spark offensively, scoring 18 points. Burke had that sensational third quarter, where he dropped 16 points. Damyean Dotson made four three-pointers as he continues to get more and more much-deserved playing time. An alarming stat from tonight was Tim Hardaway Jr.'s +/-, which was -25, which was by far the worst on the team as he fouled out in the final minute.

With all that being said, the young guys are playing a lot, which all fans want to see. Everyone is getting a chance early on to prove themselves and get more and more playing time. That should help decrease Lance Thomas' minutes, which should soon evaporate, considering he gives them next to nothing on the offensive end. The good news for this team is that they fight. They come back and they stay in games and make them fun to watch. They have yet to give up in any game or be out of any game in the fourth quarter. That's exactly what Knicks fans should be looking forward to in 2018-2019.

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