Doc Rivers and Ryan Rollins speak on the Bucks’ loss to the Heat
Doc Rivers and Ryan Rollins speak on the Milwaukee Bucks’ loss to the Miami Heat on Nov. 28, 2025 in Miami.
NEW YORK – The Milwaukee Bucks are in the midst of a six-game losing streak as they head to Madison Square Garden tonight, Nov. 28, to face the New York Knicks in a streaming-only game on Prime.
In Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return to action, Jalen Brunson took the spotlight in the third quarter by scoring 16 of his game high 31 points in the frame, giving his team a 92-88 lead heading into the fourth. Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes of action.
Milwaukee took a 62-61 lead into the break. The Bucks led by a dozen with under five minutes left in the second quarter but the Knicks went on a 16-4 lead thanks to three Bucks turnovers. In the half, New York scored 13 points off eight Bucks giveaways. The Knicks also went 18 of 22 from the free throw line in the half as the Bucks fouled 16 times.
Antetokounmpo played 13 first half minutes, scoring 16 points and handing out four assists while pulling down 10 rebounds. The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson, who had 15.
The Bucks took a 37-33 lead after the first quarter thanks to a 9 of 13 performance from behind the 3-point line. The Knicks hung in thanks to going 14-for-14 from the free throw line and scoring seven points off three Bucks turnovers.
Antetokounmpo picked up two fouls in the first 90 seconds of the game, but added six points, five rebounds and three assists in six minutes of action.
The Bucks are 8-11 and currently three games out of the East’s final play-in spot while the Knicks are 11-6 and have won three of their last four.
Bucks need to win, and help, to advance in NBA Cup
It is the final game of East Group C play in the NBA Cup, and the Bucks not only need to beat the Knicks to keep their hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals alive, but they also need help around the league on Nov. 28. The Bucks can only advance via the wildcard entry in the East following their loss at Miami on Nov. 26, so they need the following to happen:
Atlanta defeats ClevelandOrlando defeats Detroit
There is technically a possibility the Bucks could advance otherwise, but they would need to beat the Knicks by such a wide margin to make up a point differential deficit to Cleveland and Detroit. The Bucks’ largest margin of victory this season is just 16 (vs. Chicago on Nov. 7).
Milwaukee was hurt in that category by going to overtime against Charlotte on Nov. 14, as Cup games that go to an extra period are awarded a net zero point differential regardless of outcome.
The Bucks are the defending in-season tournament champions and are the only team in the league to have advanced to the semifinals in the first two years of the Cup. Should they advance to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive season, they would go on the road for the first time.
Giannis in New York for first time since offseason trade talks
Milwaukee beat New York, 121-111, on Oct. 28 at Fiserv Forum and afterward, Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked several questions by Knicks beat writers about the offseason trade talks between the Bucks and Knicks.
“I don’t remember that,” he said after the game. “Right now I’m here representing my team and that’s it. We beat the Knicks. So it doesn’t really matter. What matters right now is we have a game in two days against Golden State. Try to stay locked in and get two in a row. But I didn’t read that article. I try to stay away from all that rumors, how do you call it, speculations and trade and all this. That doesn’t concern me one bit. I try to involve myself and try to help my team win games.”
Antetokounmpo had previously addressed the report earlier in training camp on Oct. 8.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes.
The Bucks star began the day questionable to suit up in New York, but he participated in the team’s entire morning shootaround and went through his usual pregame routine at Madison Square Garden. He has not played since Nov. 17 in Cleveland, when he strained his left adductor in the first half and exited the game immediately.
After going through a pregame workout in Milwaukee before a loss to Portland on Nov. 24, the 30-year-old star was upgraded to questionable as the team headed to Miami. But, he did not complete the team’s shootaround on Nov. 26, and ultimately was ruled out.
Bucks losing streak mounting
Milwaukee’s current six-game losing streak matches the streak the team suffered through from Oct. 25-Nov. 7, 2024, last season. The team had not lost seven in a row since doing it twice in the 2006-07 campaign.
Giannis Antetokounmpo began the season saying good teams do not lose two games in a row, which was a mental trick of sorts to get the team to refocus after losses – even the 60-win Bucks in 2018-19 lost twice in a row one time – but the Bucks have now strung together long losing streaks that he hasn’t experienced since his first two years in the league.
In his rookie year of 2013-14, the 15-win Bucks went on several long losing streaks. In 2014-15, they lost six straight at one point. But from 2015-16 through 2023-24 the team had never lost more than five in a row.
And considering the Bucks head home immediately after the Knicks game to face the Brooklyn Nets on a back-to-back – and that the team is currently 1-2 on the back end of consecutive games – it’s worth noting the team has not lost eight in a row since Antetokounmpo’s rookie season, from March 11-27, 2014.
The franchise record is a 15-game losing streak in the 1995-96 season.
Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)Kevin Porter Jr., out (right meniscus surgery)Giannis Antetokounmpo, available (left adductor strain)
Bucks starting lineup
What channel are the Bucks on?
The Bucks are not on a traditional TV channel, as the game will be streamed only on Prime. Ian Eagle, Stan Van Gundy and Cassidy Hubbarth are on the call. If fans want to listen to a local option, the game will be broadcast on WTMJ Radio and the Bucks radio network with Dave Koehn on the call.
What time is the Bucks game?
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.
Bucks vs. Knicks odds
New York is a 7.5-point favorite over Milwaukee, and the over/under is set at 235.5 points per BetMGM.