Knicks top Milwaukee in season opener 122-97

Derrick Williams scored 24 points, 20-year-old Kristaps Porzingis had 16 in his NBA debut, and the New York Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 122-97 on Wednesday night in the season opener for each team.

Williams got easy looks under the basket to help New York open a 12-point halftime lead. The reserve forward started the fourth quarter with a dunk off an alley-oop pass from rookie Jerian Grant that made it 92-73.

The Knicks are hoping a revamped roster surrounding star Carmelo Anthony will help them rebound from a dreary 65-loss season. For one night at least, they got off to a nice start against one of the league's up-and-coming teams.

Greg Monroe led the Bucks with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

But the big man didn't have enough help. Point guard Michael Carter-Williams scored 20 points, but had six turnovers, all after the first quarter.

Defensively, the Bucks had too many lapses in the paint, especially in the first half.

Willliams was 8 of 17 from the field and 7 of 9 from the foul line. The 7-foot-3 Porzingis was 3 of 11 from the field and 9 of 12 from the line.

Langston Galloway hurt the Bucks with three 3s in the third quarter, including two near the end of the period. Galloway finished with 16 points.

The Knicks' lead rarely dipped below double digits after the first quarter.

The Bucks played without their projected starting frontcourt. Jabari Parker isn't expected back from a left knee injury for at least another couple weeks, while Giannis Antetokounmpo served his one-game suspension for shoving Chicago's Mike Dunleavy for in the playoffs last season.

DEBUTS

Porzingis, the fourth overall pick, became the first rookie to start on opening night for the Knicks since Landry Fields and Timofey Mozgov in 2010-11. ... Bucks first-round pick Rashad Vaughn, selected 17th overall, had 10 points in 13 minutes in a reserve role.

TIP-INS

Knicks: Anthony, a 12-year veteran and the longest-tenured Knick, made his fifth straight opening night start for New York. He had 11 points in 29 minutes, shooting 4 of 16. ... G Arron Afflalo, a free-agent pick-up in the offseason, sat out with a strained left hamstring.

Bucks: Milwaukee also played with veteran guard O.J. Mayo, who has a strained right hamstring.

UP NEXT

Knicks: Host Atlanta in their home opener on Thursday.

Bucks: Host Washington on Friday.

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