Antetokounmpo’s streak is breaking
Hartenstein and Knicks wade off title contender
December 25, 2023, 9:01 p.m
Christmas time is NBA time: a German national player kicks things off with his New York Knicks – and Isaiah Hartenstein surprisingly puts the Milwaukee Bucks in their place. Some celebrities in the audience are happy, but basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is not at all happy.
The German national basketball player Isaiah Hartenstein successfully took revenge on the Milwaukee Bucks with the New York Knicks in the NBA. Less than 48 hours after the home defeat against the team led by superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (111:130), the Knicks struck back on Christmas Day with 129:122 (62:51). Center Hartenstein, who was in the starting five, had eleven points, eight rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes.
Hartenstein and the Knicks started the season well. With 17:12 wins, the team is in fifth place and has a playoff spot. With one more bankruptcy, the team from the east coast metropolis would slip back to seventh place and into the play-in tournament. Title candidate Milwaukee is still on course in second place (22:8 wins) despite the defeat. At Madison Square Garden, however, Antetokounmpo’s streak of seven wins in a row was broken.
Few hit shots, lots of celebrities
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson was particularly impressive with 38 points. Julius Randle (24 points) and RJ Barrett (21) also excelled. On the other hand, 32 points each from top players Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were not enough for the Bucks. The Bucks were particularly troubled by the poor shooting rates: Lillard only hit four of 13 attempts from outside, and overall the Bucks only hit 31 percent of their three-point throws. Things didn’t look any better for the Knicks (30.8 percent), but their two-point throws were better than their opponents.
Milwaukee got within four points towards the end of the third quarter, but then New York pulled away again. In the final phase the lead dwindled again, but the Knicks’ success was no longer there. Traditionally, many stars and starlets were once again on site at the Christmas matinee (local time) in the Big Apple: this time comedian and actor Chris Rock, rappers 50 Cent and Fat Joe and NBA legend Carmelo Anthony eagerly waved to the cameras.