Kristaps Porzingis walking well, sees Knicks limp away with loss

NEW YORK _ Kristaps Porzingis moved well and without a limp as he walked on to the court Saturday night. It was a good sign for a franchise desperately in need of one.

Porzingis is nearly two months removed from undergoing surgery to repair a torn left ACL. But he didn't seem to be favoring the leg as he made his way to center court. Porzingis said hello as he whisked by reporters. He didn't stop because someone far more important was waiting.

Latvian president Raimond Vejonis was in attendance on Latvian Heritage Night. Porzingis presented Vejonis with a personalized jersey and adidas sneakers before the game. The two shook hands and posed for photos.

The Knicks fell to the playoff-bound Bucks, 115-102, at Madison Square Garden, and surpassed their loss total from last season. They're now 28-52. They finished 31-51 last season.

Jarrett Jack led the Knicks with 18 points. Kyle O'Quinn added 15 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks.

The Knicks remained in ninth place in the lottery standings with only two games left in another lost season. They play their home finale Monday against LeBron James and the Cavaliers before closing out the season Wednesday in Cleveland.

It's the fifth straight year that the Knicks won't be in the playoffs. For Porzingis, it's the third consecutive time his season will end with him unable to play.

All three years of Porzingis' career ended in injury. But in the prior two, there was never a question of whether Porzingis would be ready for the start of the following season. The only thing known at this point is Porzingis won't be ready for the start of next season. He may not be before the calendar turns to 2019.

Porzingis wasn't made available to the media Saturday, and left long before the game ended. He exchanged pleasantries with Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was guarding Porzingis when he tore his ACL following a dunk on Feb. 6.

This was just the second time he has been in Garden since then. Porzingis also attended the March 13 loss to the Mavericks.

That night, Porzingis wouldn't put a timetable on his recovery. But he said he already had begun working on his upper-body strength and sounded confident he would to the All-Star level he reached this season _ at least.

"I believe that I'm going to come back better and stronger," Porzingis said.

The Knicks have lost at least 50 games for four straight years, matching a franchise record. They could set a new one next season, considering Porzingis' health. The Knicks are a team in transition.

Barring an unexpected trade for a marquee player, the Knicks could field a very young team next season.

They will have a top 10 pick in the draft. They also don't want to add too much payroll that would handcuff them from having the salary cap room for the summer of 2019. So the Knicks could have another high draft pick in 2019, too.

So much will depend on how quickly their young players develop, whether they get lucky in the lottery and when Porzingis can get back on the court for real.

Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe led the Bucks with 22 points apiece.