The New York Knicks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 122-109 on Sunday thanks to a strong second half led by Jalen Brunson, who scored 43 points. It was the Knicks’ fourth straight loss.

The Bucks have lost six of their last seven games and are experiencing their biggest losing run of the year. In the competition for the second playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, behind the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee is leading the Knicks and Orlando Magic by one game.

This was a defeat, but at least it came against a winning squad. The Bucks’ current losing streak began with defeats to the Toronto Raptors, Washingtоn Wizards, and Memphis Grizzlies—all three teams with records far below.500.

In his first game back, Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. On Friday, he missed the Bucks’ 117-111 loss to the Raptors because of a left hamstring strain. The Bucks’ top three players—Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton—were all available for just the fourth time in the previous 29 games.

However, some of them would lose the game before the end. Halfway through the second quarter, Middleton took a puncҺ to the face and was out for the remainder of the game.

Middleton lost consciousness as a result of Donte DiVincenzo of New York accidentally striking him in the face. Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein took a jumper, collapsed, and landed on the Bucks forward’s back as Middleton lay on his stomach.

The three-time All-Star, his mouth gushing blооd, made his way to the locker room.

In Middleton’s absence, Brunson and the Knicks came together. In his five games this season against the Bucks, Brunson has averaged 37.2 points. On Sunday, he also had six rebounds and eight assists.

Hartenstein contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds, while DiVincenzo scored 26 points. Josh Hart finished with nine rebounds, nine assists, and seven points.

For the Bucks, Bobby Portis scored 24 points and Damian Lillard scored 23.

The Knicks overcame a halftime deficit of 61-50 to take a commanding lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Bucks 20-6 in the first six minutes.

With 6:58 remaining in the third quarter, DiVincenzo made two free throws to give the Knicks their first lead since they held a 6-5 lead less than four minutes earlier. To finish a 14-1 run, Hartenstein dunk after OG Anunoby’s steаl.

In the last second of the third quarter, Pat Connaughton drove to the hoop but Mitchell Robinson blocked his shot, putting the Bucks behind 87-85. With a second remaining in the first, Brunson made a basket to ignite a 15-4 run that increased the Knicks’ advantage to 13.

With 6:28 remaining, Portis’ 3-pointer gave Milwaukee a 104-98 lead. However, the Bucks failed to score for the next two and a half minutes, allowing the Knicks to regain a double-digit advantage.

The margin never fell below eight.