MILWAUKEE — Steve Novak was glad to be home, even if his home was not quite as happy to have him.
The Wisconsin native, who starred at Brown Deer High School and later at Marquette, helped bury his favorite boyhood team, scoring 10 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, in the Knicks’ 111-107 win over the Bucks last night at the Bradley Center.
Novak made two late free throws to help put the game away.
“It’s always special to be here,” said Novak, who also had four rebounds “Growing up I was a Bucks fan, but now it’s completely different. It’s my job to play for the Knicks. It’s business.”
Business had not been booming lately.
Novak, the NBA-leader in 3-point percentage, was coming off his worst two games of the season, shooting 0-for-8 in the home-and-home series with the Bulls, with seven misses coming from beyond the 3-point arc. Novak said he was thinking too much.
After making his first shot in the second quarter last night, instinct returned. Novak made 2 of 5 3-pointers, shot 3 of 6 from the field, and hit two key free throws with 19 seconds left to give the Knicks a 110-105 lead.
“This was the biggest game of the year for us,” Novak said. “I shot the ball pretty miserably the last couple of nights, but I knew if I just continued to shoot, the ball was going to go in. It would come.”
In addition to his grandparents seeing him play an NBA game for the first time, Novak played in front of his parents, three siblings and in-laws.
Novak said he was thrilled to get the win and even more excited to do it in front of his entire family.
“I’m definitely comfortable here and having my family here was really nice,” Novak said. “The guys found me and we knew we had to start making shots sooner or later. When your family is in the building, it’s extra special.
“Milwaukee is my people,’’ he said. “I’m going to make this my home when I’m done playing.”
If they still will have him.