Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks the Milwaukee Bucks need to start showing more following their 140-106 defeat to the New York Knicks on Sunday, which left the visitors 0-8 against the East's top three teams.

The rout also snapped a three-game winning streak for the Bucks, who are sixth in the East with a 20-17 record.

"We've gotta get our stuff together, it's as simple as that. We did not beat Boston, we did not beat the Cavs, we didn't beat the Knicks," Antetokounmpo said.

"Those are the top three teams, and we've played horribly against them."

The comments made by Antetokounmpo echo those that he made following the Bucks' previous blowout at Madison Square Garden in November, when they were beaten 116-94.

Following that defeat, which left the Bucks 2-7, the two-time MVP questioned the competitive spirit of his team.

While he acknowledged the improvements they have made since then, he impressed on everyone that they still need to do better.

"I think we're a way better team [now] than the November team. We've proven it by playing good basketball for longer stretches," said Antetokounmpo, who finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

"But at the end of the day, when we're playing the better teams, we've got to do a better job. They're not just going to give it to us, we've got to take it. They're not just going to fold."

Despite the score being close for the majority of the first half, the Knicks were able to get 13 points ahead by halftime before then outscoring the visitors by 10 in the third quarter.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers called two timeouts in an attempt to kill the momentum but was unable to do so, with Jalen Brunson scoring 44 points for the Knicks despite missing most of the third quarter with an injury.

Bucks guard Damian Lillard, meanwhile, accepts their record against the better teams is not what it should be.

"You have to have watched the games," he said, referencing the Bucks' two defeats to the Cleveland Cavaliers by a combined three points and two close losses to the Celtics.

"One year in Portland, we got our a**** whupped every [regular-season] game by OKC. Then in the playoffs, we whupped their a**," Lillard said.

"So no, we haven't beaten the top teams. But we also have to key in, look at why, figure out the context and move forward."