All they really cared about was finishing a winning Eastern trip at 2-1 after squandering a fourth-quarter lead Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Six Bucks players scored in double figures, led by Michael Redd with 21 points. Richard Jefferson and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute each had 16 as Milwaukee (12-16) improved to 3-0 against the Knicks this season.

New York (11-15) was coming off a narrow loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, but the Knicks never seriously threatened the Bucks after falling behind by 16 points at halftime.

"We did what we set out to do," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "We wanted to limit their three-point shooting; they only made 7 threes.

"We moved the ball pretty well. The main thing is we were able to get out to their shooters and not allow a three-point game tonight."

The Knicks struggled to 38.7% shooting (29 for 75) and were 7 for 21 from three-point range.

"We're getting better," Jefferson said. "Instead of playing just two quarters or three quarters, we played 8 or 9 minutes of good defense every single quarter. That's what really helped us."

Meanwhile, the Bucks moved the ball crisply and had 25 assists on 42 made baskets.

Center Andrew Bogut, playing despite a painful back injury that has bothered him the last few days, contributed 10 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes.

Bogut, playing at the high post, had three consecutive assists to cutting teammates as the Bucks led by as many as 25 points in the third quarter.

"I still can't really move my hips, and I struggle when I go into a hook shot," said Bogut, who winced in pain on several occasions. "It's tough to move at the moment.

"I didn't think I'd get through it as easy as I did today, but tomorrow I have a lot of work to do before the game (against the Los Angeles Clippers) and I've got to see a chiropractor. I really haven't had back problems before."

The Bucks also got a lift from point guard Tyronn Lue, who has been buried on the bench much of the season but responded with 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting.

"He was great," Skiles said. "He doesn't make mistakes with the ball; he doesn't turn it over. He plays good defense, and he can make open shots. He should get more of a look right now.

"It's a game where you can get open shots. I just thought with his shot-making he could come in and give us a lift, and he did. He did a great job."

The Knicks were out of sorts from the opening tip, when they started the game without forward Al Harrington, who was stuck in New York's backed-up traffic caused by a wintry mix of sleet and snow.

Harrington jumped out of his car at 36th St. and ran three blocks to the Garden, arriving midway through the first quarter, and was immediately inserted in the game.

Guard Nate Robinson, starting in Harrington's place, led the Knicks with 21 points and Harrington finished with 16 points but shot just 6 for 17.

The 6-foot-9 Harrington was hounded by Mbah a Moute, who has guarded the scoring leaders for nearly every opponent.

"It was very important (to win), especially after the way we lost to Philly," Mbah a Moute said. "It's a game we felt like we should have won.

"He (Harrington) is hard to guard. My teammates did a great job of helping me when I was beat or I was late."

The Knicks lost their third straight game and committed 23 turnovers, leading to 30 points by the Bucks.

"We came out flat," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Our defense was OK the first quarter, but when you have nine turnovers, you miss three foul shots and you can't hit an open shot, obviously you are going to be in the hole a little.

"We have to flush this one down the toilet. Bottom line, we weren't good."

Copyright 2008, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)