The Knicks (5-4) are starting to look like their old selves. After a tough 0-3 start, New York has won four of its last five games. The defending champions will hope to keep the good times rolling tonight against the Bucks (1-9). Milwaukee, in the midst of a rebuild, is still trying to build an identity with its youthful roster. Earning an upset at home would go a long way for this group.
The Knicks enter today’s matchup as 15.5-point favorites over the Bucks, with the total set at 220.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for Tuesday’s New York vs. Milwaukee contest.
Knicks vs. Bucks prediction, preview
It’s been a sluggish start in the Big Apple, highlighted by New York’s offensive ineptitude. The team is only putting up 109.9 points per game, eighth-fewest in the NBA. It’s partially by design; head coach Mike Brown prefers his guys playing at a slowed down pace. Regardless, there’s obvious room for improvement. The Knicks are hitting just 42.9% of their field goal attempts, third-lowest in the association.
With that being said, the team’s two biggest stars have been stepping up as of late. Finals MVP Jalen Brunson just won Eastern Conference Player of the Week, averaging 27.7 points and 6.3 assists over three games. Co-star Karl-Anthony Towns has been terrific all year. The center is putting up 20.9 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists down low, anchoring an otherwise inconsistent offense. It’s worth noting that do-it-all wing Josh Hart (ankle) is questionable to play tonight.
Slowing down this proven group of veterans could prove difficult for the Bucks. They’re currently on the hook for the NBA’s second-worst defensive rating (121.8). That’s partially due to lackluster effort on the glass. Opponents are averaging 47.9 rebounds per game against Milwaukee, second-most in basketball. In comparison, a bigger Knicks club is snagging the sport’s third-most boards per game (48.3). The combination of KAT and backup center Andre Drummond could prove to be a handful tonight.
If the Bucks are going to win, something they don’t do very often, it’ll likely be due to their scoring. The team only ranks 25th in points per game (108.4). Making matters worse, former All-Star Tyler Herro (contusion) may not suit up this evening. It’s worth noting that four other Bucks are posting double-digit points per game. That includes youngsters Jaime Jaquez Jr. (15.2 PPG) and Brayden Burries (10.5 PPG).
The biggest drawback for Milwaukee has come from beyond the arc. The club is only knocking down 33.5% of its three-point attempts this season, seventh-lowest in the NBA. It’s unlikely that scoring gets any easier on Tuesday. The Knicks are giving up a minuscule 104.2 points per game to opponents, second-best in basketball. Teams are shooting just over 43% from the field when facing New York.
Best Bet: Knicks over 118.5 points (-105)
It’s likely just a matter of time until this Knicks offense kicks into second gear. We’ve seen glimpses of that during the team’s two wins over the lackluster Bulls this season. Milwaukee’s defense might be even worse, so this is a prime spot to put up points. Even if Hart doesn’t suit up, New York should find a way to put up some buckets on the road tonight.
