• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Patterson, Bucks face struggling Knicks

Dec 9, 2006 - 5:40 PM Milwaukee (8-11) at New York (7-14) 7:30 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Known as one of the best defenders in the NBA, Ruben Patterson was a scoring sidekick for Michael Redd and the Milwaukee Bucks in their last contest.

Patterson, Redd and the Bucks will look to keep it going against the lowly New York Knicks on Saturday.

Patterson scored a season-high 30 points and Redd added 25 - including four 3-pointers - as Milwaukee took control early and cruised to a 100-94 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

The Bucks came in having alternated wins and losses in its last seven contests. On Friday, Milwaukee found some consistency in Patterson, whose impact usually comes on the other end of the court. The 6-6 swingman entered the meeting with the Grizzlies averaging 12.3 points per game.

The Bucks also received a lift from Charlie Villanueva, who returned after missing 10 games with an elbow injury and scored eight points in 17 minutes.

For a second straight season, Madison Square Garden has become a place where the Knicks lose games and fans. In a noticeably empty arena, Eddy Curry scored 22 points for New York, which shot 44 percent (36-of-81) and heard vicious boos in a 113-102 setback against the Washington Wizards.

The latest loss dropped New York to 2-8 on their home floor.

The Bucks won both game at Madison Square Garden and three out of four from the Knicks last season.