In star forward Jabari Parker‘s return to the lineup, the Milwaukee Bucks won a thriller over the New York Knicks at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The Bradley Center crowd was treated to an uplifting evening on Friday, as Parker outperformed expectations, and the Milwaukee Bucks bounced back nicely after being trounced by the Minnesota Timberwolves just 24 hours earlier.
Losing to the Timberwolves on the road should not be particularly disheartening, but the Bucks suffered the loss of reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon in the second quarter as well. Giannis Antetokounmpo was also banged up by the end of the Wolves game, and all things considered, Bucks fans really needed the performance that Joe Prunty and the gang came up with against New York.
The Knicks, led by noted unicorn Kristaps Porzingis, entered the season with low expectations. After a surprisingly strong start featuring a solid rookie campaign from point guard Frank Ntilikina, they’ve distinguished themselves from the NBA’s true tankers.
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In their first of four matchups, the Bucks and Knicks put on a highly competitive show for the Bradley Center. The game was tight from start to finish, featuring numerous lead changes. Both teams came through with clutch plays that dashed momentum and prevented either squad from pulling away.
It came down to the final two possessions, with Milwaukee going up 92-90 on an impressive layup by Antetokounmpo, and successfully defending New York on the subsequent trip down the court.
While the game took on a life of its own, this one will be remembered as Jabari Parker’s comeback game. All told, he logged 15 minutes and scored 12 points. It’s a fantastic result, and Bucks nation should be swelling with pride. We’ll kick things off by taking a closer look at how Parker fared in his return.