After Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points and dished out 10 assists, Damian Lillard scored 28 points, and Milwaukee defeated New York 146-122 to advance to the NBA’s first-ever In-Season Tournament semifinals.

With a season-high scoring output of 60.5% (23 of 38) from three-point range and 60.4% overall, the Bucks advanced to the last four, where they will play the Indiana Pacers on Thursday (Friday AEDT) in Las Vegas.

Milwaukee (15-6) has extended their winning streak at home to nine games and is 5-0 in tournament play.

NBA in-season competition: Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks defeat the Knicks to advance to the playoffs in Las Vegas

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With a career-high 41 points, Julius Randle ended the Knicks’ three-game winning streak. Through a point-differential tiebreaker, New York secured a wildcard position in the knockout round with the help of Jalen Brunson’s 24 points and R.J. Barrett’s 23 points.

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Less than two minutes into Tuesday’s (Wednesday AEDT) game, Antetokounmpo had a fright. He landed on Randle’s foot after tipping in a missed basket, rolling his left ankle. With anguish, Antetokounmpo collapsed to the ground. Even though he ultimately hobbled onto the court, he continued to play and scored 10 of the Bucks’ first 13 points.

After a closely contested first half, Milwaukee led by as many as eighteen points in the third quarter. Head coach Adrian Griffin chose to thin off his bench when the Bucks had a 27-point lead in the fourth quarter. This gave starting center Brook’s brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and his twin brother, Robin Lopez, rare opportunity to play.

Preview, start time, TV schedule, and injury report for the Bucks vs. Knicks game at Brew Hoop

Lillard made three step-back triples in the last minutes of the second quarter to give the home team a 75-72 lead at the half. It was the season’s highest scoring half for Milwaukee.

After falling to the Bucks at Milwaukee on November 3 in the first game of the tournament group stage, the Knicks had gone 10-3.

An image of Giannis Antetokounmpo dunking was featured in the graphic. “In-Season Tournament Player of the game” is written in text on the image. Antetokounmpo Giannis. 35 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals.”