The New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks face each other for the second straight game as they collide on Thursday night at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
These teams squared off in New York in one of the five featured games on Christmas Day. Milwaukee ran away with that one, winning 109-95 behind 30 points and 14 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Still Struggling Without Porzingis
The New York Knicks are struggling with Kristaps Porzingis still at sick bay. The Knicks enter this contest having lost five in a row and losers of seven out of their last eight games. The Knicks are 9-26 on the season, which puts them at 5th place in the Atlantic Division and second worst in the Eastern Conference, just half a game ahead of Cleveland.
The Knicks are the 22nd best scoring team in the league with their 108.2 points per game average. New York also ranks next to last with 19.8 assists per game. The Knickerbockers are 15th off the glass, hauling down an average of 45.3 rebounds per game. They also allow 115.7 points per game which is 27th among 30 NBA teams.
New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks 12/27/18
Moneyline Odds: Knicks +950, Bucks -1500
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 12/27/18
Giannis Shines In Christmas Day Debut
With their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo on the rise, the Milwaukee Bucks were one of the teams featured in this year’s NBA Christmas Day schedule. The Greek Freak did not disappoint as Giannis shone brightly in his Christmas Day debut. Antetokounmpo poured in 30 points and hauled down 14 rebounds as the Bucks played their first Christmas Day game since 1977 and improved their NBA best record to 23-10.
The Bucks are the NBA’s top scoring team at 116.1 points per game. Milwaukee also ranks 5th in passing with 26.2 assists per game. They are also ranked 1st overall in rebounding with their 49.9 boards per contest average. The Bucks’ scoring defense of 108.1 points per game allowed is 10th best in the league.
Who Wins?
The Knicks and Bucks have played a total of 213 times during the regular season. The Bucks lead their all-time series 111-102 with the Bucks winning seven out of their last eight meetings including the most recent one, a 109-95 victory in Milwaukee just last Christmas Day 2018. Earlier this month, the Knicks stunned the Bucks 136-134 in OT to snap a six game losing streak to Milwaukee.
The Knicks are 0-5 SU in their last five games played and New York is 5-14 SU on the road this season. The Bucks are 5-1 SU in their last six games played and Milwaukee is 9-7 SU on the road this season. Head to head, the Bucks are 8-2 SU in their last 10 meetings.
The Knicks have shown that they can beat the Bucks on a bad night by Milwaukee and they did that earlier this month. However, the Bucks also showed they can beat up the Knicks on a good night and that’s what happened the other day. I think the Knicks don’t have the firepower to match Milwaukee’s balanced scoring attack and without Porzingis, Giannis Antetokounmpo is just going to run wild on them. New York is on a five game losing streak and I don’t see it ending in Milwaukee with the Knicks just winning five times on the road this season.
We’re picking the Milwaukee Bucks to beat the New York Knicks on 12/27/18.
Other Bets To Make
The Knicks are 15-18-2 ATS in 35 games played this season. New York is 9-9-1 ATS in 19 road games played so far this season. The Bucks are 17-14-2 ATS in 33 games played this season. Milwaukee is 10-6-1 ATS at home this season. Head to head, the Knicks are 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks 12/27/18
Spread Odds: Knicks +14.5 (-109), Bucks -14.5 (-109)
Odds from getbets.eu as of 12/27/18
New York is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against Eastern Conference teams. The Knicks are 0-4 ATS in their last four games after a straight up loss and 1-7 ATS in their last 8 after an ATS loss. The Bucks are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games against teams from the Atlantic Division. Milwaukee is also 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games against teams with a winning percentage of below .400. The Bucks have too much firepower for the Knicks. Giannis is too much to handle for New York.
Prediction: Bucks -14.5
The total has gone over in 19 out of the 35 games played by the Knicks this season. The over is 12-7 in New York’s 19 road games this season. The total has gone over in 17 out of 33 games played by the Bucks. Milwaukee has seen the over go 10-7 in 17 home games played so far. Head to head, the over and under are split 5-5 in their last 10 meetings.
New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks 12/27/18
Over/Under Odds: Over 224 -109, Under 224 -109
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 12/27/18
The Bucks are the top scoring team in the league and the Knicks have the 27th scoring defense in the NBA. I think New York won’t be able to contain Giannis here and the Bucks are going to rain points on the Knicks. Meanwhile, the Knicks have seen the over go 7-3 in their last 10 road games
Prediction: Over 224