Grimes Vents After Bucks Knock Knicks Out of IST

Heading into training camp back in September, many pundits predicted Quentin Grimes was on the precipice of a breakout season... Instead, he looks broken.

Final Score: Knicks 122 - Bucks 146
Record: 12-8

The Bucks put on a historic offensive display in their demolition of the Knicks Tuesday night in Milwaukee, shooting over 60% from the field and over 60% from behind the arc, knocking down 23 of their 38 three-point attempts. 

Julius Randle carried his weight, pouring in a season-high 41 points in a highly efficient manner (14-of-19 FGs, 11-of-12 FTs), to go along with six rebounds, five assists and two treys. However, New York's defense (or lack thereof) was far too porous to overcome JR's offensive exploits. 

Milwaukee posted an effective field goal percentage of 73.1%. Per Justin Kubatko of BBall Ref, that's the second-highest such figure in franchise history, trailing only the 74.0% they posted on Nov. 26, 2021. The Bucks scored 112 points through the first 36 minutes of action and at least 37 points in each of the first three quarters. 

The last time a Knicks team allowed an opponent to score 37+ points in a game's first three frames was… March 2, 1962. Yes, that's the night Wilt Chamberlain set the single-game scoring record with 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169–147 win over the Knicks.

It was that kind of night for New York. 

"Defensively, we didn't really do anything all game. That's the story. That's it," Brunson said. "They hit a lot of shots. They got comfortable. It's on us to make them uncomfortable."

Yet, that wasn't the whole story because the shooting guard who started alongside Brunson in the Knicks backcourt finally let his emotions boil when speaking with reporters after the defeat. 

Quentin Grimes logged 12 minutes in the first half Tuesday night. And didn't attempt a single shot. He finished the game with just one attempt and zero points. 

"It's just hard when you go the whole first quarter without touching the ball, the whole second quarter without touching the ball, and then you get one shot and you got to make it," Grimes said. "So it's tough going out there and just standing in the corner the whole game, then you got to make the shot when you shoot the ball one or two times per game."

Once again, Grimes didn't log a single second in the fourth quarter. Remarkably, it's the sixth straight game he's been benched the entire final frame.