The Knicks became the tomato cans of Christmas — not belonging on the NBA’s grand stage with their 9-26 record and potential superstar still sidelined another two months.
They kept up the fight for a first half before the Bucks, legitimate Eastern Conference title contenders, threw a third-quarter haymaker that wobbled their legs.
“The Grinch of Greece,” Giannis Antetokounmpo, was bottled up for a half by Noah Vonleh before he unleashed third-quarter magic on the way to 30 points and 14 rebounds in the Bucks’ comfy 109-95 Garden matinee victory.
The match that kicked off the NBA’s five-game showcase card wasn’t worthy of this spotlight and the NBA probably regrets not putting the Bucks in Toronto against Kawhi Leonard’s Raptors.