The New York Knicks, fueled by 37 points from Jalen Brunson, punched their ticket to the NBA Cup quarter-finals on Friday with a 118-109 victory over Milwaukee that knocked the defending in-season tournament champion Bucks out of the competition.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a four-game injury absence to score 30 points with 15 rebounds and eight assists in 28 minutes, but the Bucks dropped their seventh straight.

Trailing by four to start the fourth quarter, the Bucks pulled within two points on an Antetokounpo dunk with 5:19 remaining.

But the Knicks pulled away thanks in large part to Brunson, who made nine out of 10 free-throws, including four of four in the final period.

The Knicks finished atop their group and their victory at Madison Square Garden also saw the

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