Kyle Kuzma did his part in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return against the Knicks, giving the Bucks 20 points off the bench on a season-best 8-9 from the field and 4-5 from three. Add four boards, three assists, and two steals, but Milwaukee was unable to parlay Giannis’ return and Kuzma’s uncharacteristically hot hand into a win. Instead, New York came through at home, 118-109, ending the Bucks’ quest to repeat as NBA Cup champions.
Bucks let bailout Kuzma game go by the way side
Most nights, a possession that ends in a Kuzma shot from beyond the arc is not the ideal trip down the floor. Seeing him splash in three-balls from way downtown is an uncanny sight. Yet he delivered time and again under the bright lights at Madison Square Garden, raining down a 29-footer just before the halftime buzzer to give the Bucks a one-point lead.
Nov 4, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
It was a gift from the basketball gods that the Bucks failed to cash in via victory.
Overall this season, Kuzma has been surprisingly productive – so much so that he won back a spot in the starting five after beginning the year on the bench. He’s averaged 13.6 points in 19 games overall, plus 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The 3-point shot hasn’t miraculously transformed – 33.3%, no surprise there – but he’s been much more efficient as a scorer (50.5 FG%, 74.6 FT%). Alas, Friday night in New York, aside from Kuzma, AJ Green, and Giannis no one stepped up to stop Milwaukee’s slide.
Notably, feeling the need to “step up” isn’t how Antetokounmpo wants his teammates thinking. Postgame, he called on the team to hone in on “doing the little things,” stay within themselves, and let the wins follow.
“At the end of the day, you got to come in, do your job, do what you’re paid to do, defend … do the little things,” Giannis said. “And sometimes, when you worry about doing the little things, all the other things add up. If you’re so concerned about scoring the ball and get yourself going offensively and that doesn’t work for you, now you feel like you cannot do nothing.”
Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrate in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
However they do it, the Bucks need to figure out answers and fast. The seventh consecutive loss dropped them to 8-12 on the year, 11th in the East and two back of Chicago for the 10-seed.
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