Game ID: 22500074
Milwaukee Bucks @ New York Knicks
Friday, November 28, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 33 28 31 26 118MIL 37 25 26 21 109
MIL @ NYK ScoutingMIL @ NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NYK availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Brunson missed 2 since 11/14, returns tonight: 35 min (98% of 35)
OUT Kolek missed 2 since 11/14, out tonight
NEW Shamet 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/22 · 2 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Kolek missed 3 since 11/14, returns tonight: 16 min (149% of 11)
BACK Brunson back 11/19 after 2, 35 min since (98% of 35)
NEW Shamet 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Clarkson 16 to 21 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 11/19 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Kolek back 11/22 after 3, 16 min since (149% of 11)
NEW Clarkson 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 4 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 11/19 after 2, 35 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Kolek back 11/22 after 3, 17 min since (151% of 11)
NEW Bridges 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 24 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Clarkson 16 to 27 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 5 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 2 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 11/19 after 2, 35 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Kolek back 11/22 after 3, 16 min since (147% of 11)
NEW McBride 24 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 3 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 11/19 after 2, 35 min since (100% of 35)
BACK Kolek back 11/22 after 3, 15 min since (133% of 11)
NEW McBride 24 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 7 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 4 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK Kolek back 11/22 after 3, 15 min since (132% of 11)
NEW McBride 24 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/03 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 8 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 5 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Hart 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 24 to 35 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 9 since 11/17, returns tonight: 23 min (68% of 33)
OUT Shamet missed 6 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Hart 31 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 24 to 36 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 11/20 · 2 days' restOUT Porter Jr. missed 14 since 10/24, out tonight
OUT Prince missed 7 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Nance missed 3 since 11/14, out tonight
BACK Sims back 11/12 after 2, 12 min since (60% of 20)
BACK Harris back 11/10 after 2, 12 min since (90% of 14)
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 27 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 15 since 10/24, out tonight
OUT Prince missed 8 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Nance missed 4 since 11/14, returns tonight: 2 min (15% of 16)
BACK Sims back 11/12 after 2, 13 min since (64% of 20)
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 29 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 16 since 10/24, out tonight
OUT Gia. Antetokounmp missed 2 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Prince missed 9 since 11/07, out tonight
BACK Nance back 11/22 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 16)
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 27 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 17 since 10/24, out tonight
OUT Gia. Antetokounmp missed 3 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Prince missed 10 since 11/07, out tonight
BACK Nance back 11/22 after 4, 3 min since (18% of 16)
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 29 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 18 since 10/24, out tonight
OUT Gia. Antetokounmp missed 4 since 11/20, returns tonight: 28 min (97% of 29)
OUT Prince missed 11 since 11/07, out tonight
BACK Nance back 11/22 after 4, 3 min since (18% of 16)
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 31 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Porter Jr. missed 19 since 10/24, returns tonight: 24 min (74% of 33)
OUT Prince missed 12 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Nance missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Gia. Antetokounmp back 11/28 after 4, 28 min since (97% of 29)
NEW Rollins 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 30 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Prince missed 13 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Nance missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/29 after 19, 24 min since (74% of 33)
BACK Gia. Antetokounmp back 11/28 after 4, 24 min since (81% of 29)
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 27 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Prince missed 14 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Nance missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/29 after 19, 28 min since (84% of 33)
BACK Gia. Antetokounmp back 11/28 after 4, 26 min since (91% of 29)
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 30 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Prince missed 15 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Nance missed 5 since 11/26, returns tonight: 1 min (5% of 16)
OUT Harris missed 2 since 12/01, returns tonight: 21 min (151% of 14)
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/29 after 19, 30 min since (91% of 33)
BACK Gia. Antetokounmp back 11/28 after 4, 20 min since (71% of 29)
NEW Trent Jr. 21 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Towns at 24 a game. Without Anunoby (5 straight), Shamet (2 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 14 free throws a game; Rollins at 23 and Portis at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (18 straight), Gia. Antetokounmpo (4 straight), Prince (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-2 a night and Milwaukee minus-5 and the line, where New York takes 24 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 14. Call it New York 120, Milwaukee 111.
11/19 @ DAL 113-111 — NYK notes
NYK won 113-111. NYK shot 44% (41 of 93) to DAL's 41%, 12 of 42 from three. NYK turned it over 9 times to DAL's 17. Brunson led with 28 (11 of 23, 2 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Towns added 18, Bridges 16. The hinge was Q2, 28-25: NYK came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 2. Yabusele was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
11/22 @ ORL 121-133 — NYK notes
NYK lost 121-133. NYK shot 54% (43 of 79) to ORL's 55%, 13 of 37 from three. Brunson led with 33 (12 of 21, 3 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Towns added 24, Bridges 18. Q2 was theirs, 37-33, turning a 2-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 100-84 against them. They led by as many as 10. Hart's -19 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ BKN 113-100 — NYK notes
NYK won 113-100. NYK shot 51% (45 of 88) to BKN's 38%, 12 of 35 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BKN's 28. Towns led with 37 (14 of 20, 3 of 4 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Brunson added 27, Bridges 16. The hinge was Q3, 38-27: a lead of 3 became 14, and the lead reached 19. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
11/26 @ CHA 129-101 — NYK notes
NYK won 129-101. NYK shot 57% (50 of 88) to CHA's 41%, 13 of 25 from three, and got to the line 18 times to CHA's 24. Brunson led with 33 (14 of 28, 2 of 6 from three); Hart added 22, McBride 19. The hinge was Q2, 35-16: a lead of 6 became 25, and the lead reached 31. McBride was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
11/28 vs MIL 118-109 — NYK notes
NYK won 118-109. NYK shot 45% (38 of 84) to MIL's 52%, 14 of 34 from three, and went to the line 33 times to MIL's 25 — 28 points from the stripe to their 17. Brunson led with 37 (12 of 21, 4 of 6 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Hart added 19, McBride 19. The hinge was Q3, 31-26: NYK came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 4. NYK trailed 61-62 at the half and won the second half 57-47. Hart was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
11/30 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and Towns at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Anunoby (6 straight), Shamet (3 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Barnes at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Barrett (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-9 a night and New York plus-3. Call it New York 117, Toronto 112.
12/02 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and Pritchard at 20 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Towns at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Anunoby (7 straight), Shamet (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-7 a night and Boston minus-1 and the defense, New York allowing 107 a night to Boston's 118. Call it New York 116, Boston 115, Boston keeping it close.
12/03 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (8 straight), Shamet (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bridges at 21 and Sexton at 18 a game. Without Williams (14 straight), Simpson (4 straight), Green (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 40 percent from three to Charlotte's 32 and the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Charlotte minus-2. Call it New York 119, Charlotte 111.
12/05 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (9 straight), Shamet (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and George at 23 a game. Without Kessler (16 straight), Harkless (7 straight), Tshiebwe (21 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 106 a night to Utah's 123 and the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-3. Call it New York 124, Utah 113, New York by 11.
11/20 vs PHI 114-123 — MIL notes
MIL lost 114-123 in 1 overtime. MIL shot 49% (45 of 92) to PHI's 43%, 14 of 36 from three, and got to the line 13 times to PHI's 26. The glass went 42-52 against them. Rollins led with 32 (13 of 26, 2 of 8 from three); Portis added 19, Kuzma 17. Q2 was theirs, 37-22, turning a 13-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 101-77 against them. Portis's -16 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 vs DET 116-129 — MIL notes
MIL lost 116-129. MIL shot 51% (43 of 84) to DET's 63%, 20 of 43 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 19 fouls committed. Rollins led with 24 (9 of 21, 3 of 8 from three); Portis added 18, A. Green 15. Q4 was theirs, 31-25, the deficit cut from 19 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 104-85 against them. Rollins's -23 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 vs POR 103-115 — MIL notes
MIL lost 103-115. MIL shot 44% (38 of 86) to POR's 46%, 13 of 37 from three, and got to the line 18 times to POR's 33. Portis led with 22 (9 of 15, 4 of 5 from three); Anthony added 16, Kuzma 15. Q4 was theirs, 29-20, the deficit cut from 21 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 95-74 against them. Green's -31 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 @ MIA 103-106 — MIL notes
MIL lost 103-106. MIL took 10 more shots (95 to 85), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to MIA's 46%, 14 of 42 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIA's 20. Rollins led with 26 (11 of 24, 4 of 14 from three); Turner added 24, Trent Jr. 15. Q3 was theirs, 30-28, the deficit cut from 6 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 78-73 against them. Harris's -17 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/28 @ NYK 109-118 — MIL notes
MIL lost 109-118. MIL shot 52% (37 of 71) to NYK's 45%, 18 of 41 from three, and got to the line 25 times to NYK's 33. Antetokounmpo led with 30 (10 of 14, 10 of 14 at the line); Kuzma added 20, Green 18. Q1 was theirs, 37-33, but the other 3 periods went 85-72 against them. They led by as many as 12. Green's -12 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/29 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Rollins at 21 and Kuzma at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (19 straight), Prince (12 straight), Nance (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 25 and Clowney at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Thomas (10 straight), Traore (4 straight), Saraf (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the line, where Brooklyn takes 27 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 16 and the arc, Milwaukee at 40 percent from three to Brooklyn's 34. Call it Milwaukee 115, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/01 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sarr at 22 and McCollum at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Johnson (3 straight), Bagley III (4 straight), Gill (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Rollins at 17 and Turner at 14 a game. Without Prince (13 straight), Nance (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-8 and the defense, Milwaukee allowing 113 a night to Washington's 123. Call it Milwaukee 118, Washington 115, Washington keeping it close.
12/03 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 28 and Rollins at 15 a game. Without Prince (14 straight), Nance (4 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 30 free throws a game; Cunningham at 30 and Duren at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-13 a night and Milwaukee minus-2 and the line, where Detroit takes 30 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 19. Call it Detroit 116, Milwaukee 115, Milwaukee keeping it close.
12/05 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 23 and Gia. Antetokounmpo at 22 a game. Without Prince (15 straight), Nance (5 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Grimes at 17 a game. Without Oubre Jr. (9 straight), Watford (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 40 percent from three to Philadelphia's 31. Call it Milwaukee 118, Philadelphia 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKGY G. Yabusele
JB J. Brunson
JC J. Clarkson
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
MR M. Robinson
TK T. Kolek
MILAG A. Green
BP B. Portis
CA C. Anthony
GA G. Antetokounmpo
GH G. Harris
GT G. Trent Jr.
KK K. Kuzma
MT M. Turner
RR R. Rollins
NYK/MIL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jalen Brunson scores 37 points as Knicks fend off Bucks 118-109 and advance in NBA Cup
NEW YORK -- — Jalen Brunson scored 37 points and the New York Knicks advanced to the knockout round of the NBA Cup, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 118-109 on Friday night in Giannis Antetokounmpo 's return from a groin injury.
Miles McBride added 19 points, including two 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to put the Knicks ahead by 13. New York went 3-1 to win East Group C.
Josh Hart had 19 points and 15 rebounds in his third game back in the starting lineup. Mikal Bridges scored 14 points as the Knicks shot 44%.
Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in 28 minutes after missing four games.
Kyle Kuzma added 20 points as Milwaukee lost its seventh straight overall and was eliminated from the tournament with a 2-2 record in group play. A.J. Green finished with 18 points for the Bucks, who shot 52.1% and made 18 3-pointers.
Brunson had his third 30-point game since returning from a two-game absence due to a right ankle sprain. He made 7 of 8 shots in the third, when the Knicks turned a one-point halftime deficit into a four-point lead.
The Bucks nearly rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth, but Brunson hit three free throws after being fouled by Antetokounmpo with 3:37 left and set up McBride’s third 3 of the quarter for a 110-107 lead nearly a minute later. Brunson's three-point play with 1:27 left made it 114-107.
The Knicks briefly lost a six-point lead late in the third but regrouped and held a 92-88 lead into the fourth after Bridges and Brunson sank 3s in the final minute. McBride made two 3s and Tyler Kolek also hit one for a 101-88 lead early in the period before Milwaukee stormed back.