110-105. Brunson dazzles with 45 points for the Knicks but Lillard rescues the Bucks

New York, Nov 3 (EFE).- This Friday, the Milwaukee Bucks won a difficult victory in their first game of the NBA In-Season Tournament against the New York Knicks (110-105), who failed to take advantage of the impressive performance of 45 points from Jalen Brunson.

The Knicks point guard, who gave an exhibition in Milwaukee, put the New Yorkers +2 with only 1.10 remaining, which was their first advantage in the match since the second quarter.

However, at the most delicate moment for the locals, Lillard appeared, who chained a triple with a two plus one so that the Bucks achieved victory in this new tournament with which the NBA is experimenting with the cup format for the first time.

Brunson finished with 45 points (17 of 30 on field goals) while Lillard was the Bucks’ offensive leader with 30 points (7 of 15).

Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 22 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and Brook López was key in defense with 8 blocks.

The success from the perimeter was decisive, since the Bucks excelled with 20 of 39 in triples while the Knicks crashed with 10 of 39.

With this victory, Milwaukee took advantage in Group B of the East, in which, in addition to the Knicks, the Miami Heat, the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets also appear.

The first dispute for the NBA Cup, which is the trophy that the champion of this new tournament will take home, takes place from this Friday until December 9, 2023.

In the group stage, this tournament will take into account matches from the regular season before reaching a single-match elimination round.

After a quarterfinal phase, Las Vegas will host the semifinals and final at the T-Mobile Arena with a “final four” scheme from December 7 to 9.

With this cup, the NBA aspires to revitalize a regular season of 82 games in which there are many games in which there is practically nothing at stake.

In addition, the players will have an incentive in the form of a financial prize since the members of the champion team will each pocket half a million dollars.