Antetokounmpo's return from injury not enough to stop Bucks' 7- game skid, NBA Cup elimination

NEW YORK (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo's return to the court was not enough for the Milwaukee Bucks to stop their longest losing streak since his rookie season.

Restricted to 28 minutes after missing four games with a groin strain, Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists Friday night, but the Bucks were eliminated from the NBA Cup with their 118-109 loss to the Knicks.

“I felt good,” Antetkounmpo said. “I felt powerful. A little bit out of shape. Obviously I haven’t played with the team at all.”

It was Milwaukee’s seventh straight loss. It is the Bucks’ longest skid since dropping eight in a row March 11-24, 2014, when Milwaukee won 15 games after selecting Antetkounmpo in the 2013 draft.

“It’s business man,” he said. “We just got to have that business mentality. At the end of the day, we can talk all we want, make speeches. At the end of the day, we got to show up on the court 48 minutes. We got to do what it takes to win. We got to do the little things."

Antetkounmpo had several strong drives to the rim and made 10 of 14 shots, but also committed a critical foul after the Bucks cut an 11-point deficit to two in the fourth quarter. After his dunk got the Bucks within 104-102 with 5:19 left, Antetkounmpo fouled Jalen Brunson on a 3-point try.

Brunson made all three free throws and the Bucks never threatened again.

Antetokounmpo strained his left groin during Milwaukee’s 118-106 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 17. Although he was diagnosed with a mild strain, Antetokounmpo said it felt like a pop in his groin when the injury initially occurred.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 31 points, 11.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists. He scored 14 points in 13 minutes before getting injured.

The Bucks are 0-5 this season when Antetokounmpo does not play. He traveled with the team to Miami on Wednesday, when the Bucks were handed a 106-103 loss.

Antetokounmpo was named the MVP of the in-season tournament last year, when the Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder to claim the title after losing to the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals in 2023-24.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks the ball over New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to pass while being defended by New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives past New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to get past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Masyn Winn singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-1 victory over the slumping New York Mets on Wednesday.

Nolan Gorman hit a tying single in the sixth and reliever Gordon Graceffo (1-0) pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the 11th.

St. Louis (4-2) took two of three games from the Mets, who went 1 for 29 with runners in scoring position during the series. New York (3-3) is batting .162 in those situations this year.

Juan Soto homered for the Mets in the sixth — right after Francisco Lindor got picked off first base by starter Matthew Liberatore.

With two outs and automatic runner JJ Wetherholt on third, Winn lofted a blooper to shallow right field that fell just in front of diving rookie Carson Benge. It was the first hit of the series for Winn, and his first career walk-off RBI. He is 4 for 25 (.160) this season.

Tobias Myers (0-1) worked 1 2/3 innings in a hard-luck loss.

Mets: LHP David Peterson (0-0) faces LHP Robbie Ray (0-1) in San Francisco on Thursday night.

Cardinals: Following an off day, RHP Michael McGreevy (0-0) starts Friday in Detroit against LHP Framber Valdez (0-0).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' pitcher Freddy Peralta throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

New York Mets' Juan Soto hits a home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

New York Mets' right fielder Carson Benge misses a fly ball during the eleventh inning of a baseball game which allowed the St. Louis Cardinals to win the game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)

St. Louis Cardinal teammates surround Masyn Winn after he hit the game winning hit during the eleventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/LG Patterson)