The Milwaukee Bucks got closer to gaining a playoff spot by beating New York, 99-91, and completing their first sweep of the Knicks since 1990-91.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was mysteriously benched in Wednesday’s 104-99 loss to Cleveland, returned to the starting lineup and led the Bucks in scoring with 23 points on 7 for 14 from the field to go along with nine rebounds in 31 minutes. In fact, the “Greek Freak” was averaging 15.0 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 60.0 percent in the season series.

Besides Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton contributed with 22 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high six steals while Michael Carter-Williams attained 19 points, seven assists, and four steals. Turnovers and ball control played a pivotal role in the game as the Bucks forced the Knicks to cough up the ball 24 times and held an incredible 17-7 steals advantage.

The Bucks are sixth in the conference and have a magic number of one to secure a playoff spot. They can clinch with a victory over the Brooklyn Nets this Sunday but could have earned a berth Friday if Indiana, Brooklyn or Boston had lost.

For the Knicks, Langston Galloway scored 20 points on 8 of 16 shooting and Lance Thomas added 16 as they close in on the NBA’s worst record this season.

In the first period, the lowly Knicks actually held a 9-8 lead after back-to-back baskets by Galloway and even when Milwaukee surged ahead 17-11, pesky New York tied it again at 17. The Bucks quickly silenced the crowd, though, when they ended the first on a 12-4 run to make it 29-21. Both teams shot around 50 percent, but the Bucks had no turnovers and caused five of them on New York. Antetokounmpo and Carter-Williams had eight apiece.

However, the Knicks were on fire in the second as an astounding 18-6 run gave New York a 39-34 lead with 5:35 left. That edge was short-lived and turned  out to be the final time New York led as Milwaukee closed out strong again on an 18-10 splurge for a three-point halftime advantage.

At the break, Carter-Williams led all scorers with 13 and Middleton poured in 11 for the Bucks while Lou Amundson had eight points and seven boards and Shane Larkin tallied 10 on a perfect 3 of 3 for New York.

After the half, Bucks continued where they left off and took the largest lead of the game 66-51 after a 14-2 run to start the third and pummeled the Knicks the rest of the period, outscoring them 15-14 for a 16-point cushion heading into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, O.J. Mayo nailed a triple as the lead swelled to 19 and after two more consecutive threes by Milwaukee, it looked they would cruise to victory.

Then, the Bucks went ice cold, going over four minutes without a field goal while New York went on an 11-2 run to get within single digits, 92-83, with 4:07 remaining. Yet, Milwaukee ripped off six straight points to put the game out of reach and held on 99-91.

Knicks leading scorer Andrea Bargnani sat out with an illness and Tim Hardaway Jr. bruised his right wrist in the first half but returned to score seven points.

Milwaukee will take on the Nets Sunday at home while the Knicks visit Orlando Saturday.