The Milwaukee Bucks (1-1) visit the New York Knicks (0-2) Sunday at Madison Square Garden for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Bucks-Knicks NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Bucks at Knicks: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bucks -900 (bet $900 to win $100) | Knicks +600 (bet $100 to win $600)
- Against the spread/ATS: Bucks -12.5 (-115) | Knicks +12.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 221.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Bucks at Knicks: Key Injuries
Knicks
- SG Obi Toppin (calf) out
- PF Austin Rivers (groin) questionable
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Bucks at Knicks: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Bucks 126, Knicks 114
Money line (ML)
The Bucks absolutely roasted the Golden State Warriors on both ends of the floor on Christmas 138-99. Milwaukee shot 55% from the field and 54% from three compared to the Warriors’ 34% field-goal shooting (22% 3-point shooting) and out-rebounded them 60-43.
New York hung around in the first quarter of its game with the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday before eventually being routed 109-89. PF Julius Randle and SG Alec Burks continued their strong play. Randle scored 25 points on 11-for-15 shooting, and Burks had 22 off the bench with four 3-pointers.
Last season, Bucks-Knicks games went exactly how you’d expect it would go: Milwaukee won all three meetings by 44, 21 and 26 points and was favored by as many as 16.5 points.
All that being said, no NBA team in the regular-season history is worth betting at 9-to-1, and the Knicks should be getting way more than +600. PASS ON THE MONEY LINE.
Against the spread (ATS)
Milwaukee has covered six straight meetings, but there are just too many ways a professional basketball team can keep the game in single digits. If the Bucks are ahead by 25 with six minutes left, what’s keeping their foot on the gas?
It’s not outrageous for a young Knicks team to go full tilt until the end whistle because a lot of them are playing for a bigger role in new head coach Tom Thibodeau’s system.
And do you know who benefits the most from no fans being allowed in Madison Square Garden for a weekend night game against the reigning MVP? The Knicks. If this was a regular MSG atmosphere, Giannis, like every NBA superstar, would want to put on a show in New York City. As Michael Jordan once said, MSG is “the Mecca of basketball”.
I have a slight lean on the Knicks +12.5 (-105) for a tiny wager if anything but officially I’ll PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
This is a working theory that is TBD on profitability, but let’s BET OVER 221.5 (-115) for 1.5 units, and let’s keep hitting Bucks’ Overs that are 225 or less. My idea is that the Bucks are going to put up at least 120 versus bad teams, and the way teams play nowadays randomizes basketball so that even crappy squads can get hot from three.
Milwaukee has led the NBA in scoring since head coach Mike Budenholzer took the gig in 2018, and PG Jrue Holiday is such a monumental upgrade over former PG Eric Bledsoe, both offensively and defensively.
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