Knicks defeat the Bucks 100-88, get their fifth win in seven games

“It all comes down to trust, at this point.” — @carmeloanthony (24p/10r/8a) #NBAVote

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Jan 11, 2016 at 8:50am PST

The New York Knicks marched over the Milwaukee Bucks 100-88 for their fifth win in the last seven, in one of the most exciting and unselfish games this season.

The Bucks had the stronger start going 10-2 in the opening of the first quarter but Carmelo Anthony and Robin Lopez combined 10 points to put the Knicks at just 2 points behind.

Greg Monroe, who had 14 points in the first 18 minutes, managed to keep his team in game just for the first 20 minutes. Then the Knicks rallied the Bucks on a 12-2 run with Kristaps Porzingis starting the block party. Porzingis blocked Khris Middleton twice during the run and also made a dunk over John Henson, helping New York to enter the lockers on a 51-41 lead.

The Latvian rookie dominated the second half and if he scored 4 points by halftime, in the second part of the game he added 11 more and 3 more blocks (all three in the third quarter). He also finished with 6 rebounds.

The crowd went crazy when Porzingis went on a one-handed putback after a layup missed by Lopez, to dunk the ball from the face of Greg Monroe, and a few seconds later the rookie rejected Jabari Parker.

If the Knicks were dominated in the paint by San Antonio, last night it was them who outscored Milwaukee 44-32. The Knicks also shot 46% from the field and scored 7 times from behind the arc.

Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and 10 rebounds and was two assists away from his first triple-double game. Robin Lopez scored 13 and added 9 rebounds while Jose Calderon knocked 9 points – including 2/3 from long distance – and dished 7 assists.

“I think everybody’s trusting each other more. That’s the key — there is no secret. Just trust your teammates and play together. We’re finding the right guys when they’re open. We’re not forcing too many shots like maybe we did earlier in the season.”

– Jose Calderon

Arron Afflalo finished with 11 points while off the bench Lance Thomas scored 13 and Derrick Williams added 8 points and 6 rebounds.

The Knicks are now 19-20 and will try to return to .500 on Tuesday night when they host the Celtics.