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Losing at Boston, Dallas and San Antonio is one thing. Dropping a key midseason game at Milwaukee, where the Bucks had only won twice in its last nine home games, is another.

With low post defenders Tyson Chandler and Jared Jeffries missing because of injury, the Knicks defense continued to wallow, allowing a slew of easy, often uncontested shots in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 119-114 victory on Friday night.

Knicks Coach Mike D’Antoni had lamented the loss of Chandler and Jeffries after a loss at San Antonio on Wednesday night, saying they were key to the team’s defense.

The defensive malaise continued against the Bucks, a team that was averaging only 95.6 points.

The Knicks allowed Milwaukee to get uncontested jumpers and easy layups repeatedly. It led to the Knicks fourth consecutive loss, and pulled the Bucks within two games of the Knicks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

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Ersan Ilyasova scored 5 points in the final minute en route to a team-high 26 points. Brandon Jennings added 25 points and 10 assists, and Mike Dunleavy scored 25 for the Bucks.

Amar’e Stoudemire scored 27 points but was called for traveling in the closing seconds with the Knicks trailing, 116-113.

Carmelo Anthony finished with 22 points, but only 7 after halftime. Jeremy Lin scored 20 points.

The game had some significance to the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Knicks came into the game holding on to the No. 8 playoff spot in the East, with the Bucks three games behind. Milwaukee's win cuts the deficit to two.