The New York Knicks led by German center Isaiah Hartenstein have won the first Christmas Game of the NBA
In the first of five games on Christmas Day in the USA, the Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 129:122 (62:51) at Madison Square Garden, taking revenge for the defeat they had suffered against the team from Wisconsin less than 48 hours earlier.
The two teams had also met at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, when the Bucks and their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo had proved to be a size too big for the Knicks and won easily 130-111 thanks to a strong performance. Antetokounmpo had shone on Saturday with 28 points, on Monday he even scored 32 – just like his congenial partner Damian Lillard.
However, it wasn’t enough for Milwaukee to win because the Knicks picked up the pace early and took a clear lead. The Bucks did manage to close the gap to four points at the end of the third quarter, but then New York pulled away again. The Knicks’ lead dwindled again in the final phase, but New York’s success was no longer in serious danger. German international Hartenstein contributed eleven points, eight rebounds and four assists to his team’s success. His team’s outstanding player was Jalen Brunson with 38 points. Brunson had already been top scorer in Saturday’s game with 36 points and now underlined his top form.
For the Bucks, the defeat marked the end of a winning streak of seven successive victories. Overall, the title contenders are still on course with a record of 22-8, with only the Boston Celtics (22-6) still ahead of Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference. Hartenstein and the Knicks are 17-12 after a good start to the season and are therefore also in a play-off spot.
