The Milwaukee Bucks (29-15) host the New York Knicks (23-22) Saturday at the Fiserv Forum for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Knicks-Bucks odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
New York stormed back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 106-102 as 2.5-point home favorites Thursday to win the second straight and third out of four games (2-1-1 ATS).
The Knicks are 4-4 overall but 5-1-2 ATS since the All-Star break and their four straight-up losses were against the top-3 teams of the East.
Milwaukee just split a two-game miniseries with the Boston Celtics after losing last night 122-114 as 6-point home favorites.
The loss snapped an eight-game win streak for the Bucks, seven of which came after the All-Star Game, including their 134-101 win over the Knicks March 11.
These teams split the first two meetings of the season straight-up and ATS with the home team winning and covering both games.
Knicks at Bucks: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:25 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Knicks +310 (bet $100 to win $310) | Bucks -400 (bet $400 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Knicks +9 (-110) | Bucks -9 (-110)
- Over/Under: 222.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Knicks at Bucks: Key injuries
Knicks
- PF Julius Randle (ankle) probable
- PG Elfrid Payton (hamstring) probable
- SG Reggie Bullock (ankle) questionable
- C Nerlens Noel (shoulder) questionable
- PG Derrick Rose (COVID-19) questionable
- SG Terrance Ferguson (acquisition) out
Bucks
- PF P.J. Tucker (calf) questionable
- PF Bobby Portis (COVID-19) probable
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Knicks at Bucks: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Knicks 116, Bucks 111
Money line (ML)
PASS even though I give the Knicks (+310) a real chance to steal this game on the road, but I’d prefer to take the points with New York and take a shot at the total.
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Against the spread (ATS)
This is a strength-on-strength matchup with Milwaukee’s 4th-highest 3-point percentage facing New York’s No. 1 defensive 3-point percentage.
Also, the Bucks are 3rd in fast-break points per game and 7th in second-chance points per game while the Knicks are 3rd in fastbreak points allowed per game and 5th in second-chance points allowed.
However, the Knicks like to operate mid-range (7th-highest volume of mid-range attempts) and the Bucks are 21st in defensive mid-range shooting percentage, according to CleaningTheGlass.com.
Finally, New York is 8-3-1 ATS when playing with a rest advantage. BET KNICKS +9 (-110) for 1 unit.
Over/Under (O/U)
Each of these teams got hot from deep in their victory in this season’s head-to-head series, and tonight I see both offenses having success.
Both teams are going to pack the paint, forcing their opponent to shoot threes, and the Knicks are surprisingly ranked 12th in 3-point percentage.
Lastly, the previous three Knicks-Bucks games have gone Over the total, and Milwaukee has played to the Over in four straight and seven of its last eight games.
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