MILWAUKEE _ Jabari Parker was impressive in his season debut for the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, collecting 12 points in just shy of 15 minutes. He looked confident both in his skills and his left knee while doing so, attacking the paint regularly for either buckets or fouls.
But having reached his minutes limit, there was nothing he could do to help his teammates in the fourth quarter. With the game tied entering that period, they were going to have to find a way to beat the New York Knicks on their own.
It wasn't a pretty game for either side, as the Bucks got crushed on the glass and the Knicks struggled to find a consistent stroke from 3-point range and take care of the ball. But Giannis Antetokounmpo sent the sellout crowd at the BMO Harris Bradley Center home happy with a last-second layup to give the Bucks a 92-90 victory.
With just over 40 seconds remaining and the game tied, the Knicks went to Enes Kanter, who dominated inside all night with 17 points and 18 rebounds, hoping he could give them the lead. Catching in the paint late in the shot clock, Kanter was enveloped by Antetokounmpo and center John Henson, with his shot coming up short.
Antetokounmpo snagged the rebound and kept control of it until late in the shot clock before making his move. He drove to his left then spun toward the hoop, slipping in a left-handed layup with 1.9 seconds on the clock.
That basket put him at 29 points on the night to go with 11 rebounds, but it didn't seal the win.
Tim Hardaway Jr. got a solid look at the basket from 29 feet out on the ensuing possession, hesitating on his release for a moment as Khris Middleton swiped over his head, before launching his shot. It bounced harmlessly away from the basket, sending the nervous crowd into a celebratory frenzy.
The day, which began with anxiety surrounding the team's bevy of injuries _ Malcolm Brogdon was diagnosed with a partial left quadriceps tear, Eric Bledsoe had missed Thursday's game due to left ankle soreness while Antetokounmpo had tweaked his left ankle during that contest _ ended in the most positive way possible for Milwaukee.
Parker scored all 12 of his points in the first half while looking like his usual bouncy, fearless self. Antetokounmpo and Bledsoe were both able to play, with Antetokounmpo making big plays when it mattered while Bledsoe was hampered by foul trouble and fouled out after just 19 minutes.
And most importantly, the Bucks secured the win heading into a four-game road trip.
