The NBA betting action goes on with a loaded 13-game Wednesday card, so we bring you the best Bucks vs. Knicks betting pick and odds, as Milwaukee and New York continue their four-game regular-season series.
The Bucks head to Madison Square Garden as small 1.5-point road underdogs on BetMGM Sportsbook, while the totals are listed at 216.5 points. Just five days ago, Milwaukee hosted New York as a 3.5-point home fave, and the Knicks defeated the Bucks, 113-98.Â
The Bucks play without a restÂ
The Milwaukee Bucks (4-6; 4-6 ATS) started a five-game road trip with a 101-94 defeat at the Washington Wizards this past Sunday. They’ll try to bounce back at Philadelphia on Tuesday night’s clash that’s been excluded from this preview.
The Bucks have dropped five of their previous six games overall, outlasting only the lowly Detroit Pistons in the process. They have some serious selection problems, as Khris Middleton (COVID-19), Brook Lopez (back), and Donte DiVincenzo (foot) all are on the shelf.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the way for the Bucks, averaging 27.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 6.0 assists a night. The Bucks are tallying just 105.5 points per 100 possessions (20th in the NBA) while surrendering 107.4 in a return (17th).
The Knicks eye their second straight win   Â
The New York Knicks (7-4; 6-5 ATS) have been playing in a shaky form as of late, dropping three of their previous five contests, including a shocking 126-109 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They are coming off a 103-96 road win at Philadelphia this past Monday, as the Knicks easily covered a two-point spread against the short-handed 76ers.
New York took full advantage of Joel Embiid’s absence. Julius Randle dominated the Sixers’ frontcourt, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while the Knicks held the 76ers to 38.5% shooting from the field and 32.5% from downtown.
The Knicks are tied with Miami for the third-best offensive rating in the NBA, tallying 112.6 points per 100 possessions. They are yielding 110.2 points in a return (110.2), while New York’s defense ranks sixth in the league in field goal percentage (43.3%) and 23rd in 3-point percentage (36.0%).
Trends:
Milwaukee:
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games overall
- 4-13 ATS in the last 17 outings as underdogs
- 2-8 ATS in the last ten games on the second day of a back-to-back set
New York:
- 19-11 ATS in the last 30 outings as favorites
Milwaukee Bucks vs. New York Knicks Pick
The Knicks erased a 21-point first-half deficit in that comfortable road win over the Bucks. It was a proper defensive battle, as the teams combined for 35 assists and 30 turnovers while shooting below 43 percent from the field each.
The Knicks edged the Bucks thanks to a whopping 20 offensive rebounds. Also, New York scored 54 points in the paint while yielding only 28 in a return. The Bucks are forced to play Giannis Antetokounmpo at center, but the Knicks might miss Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel, who are listed as questionable due to injury problems. If one of those two guys suits up, the Knicks should have enough firepower to deal with the short-handed Bucks.
Pick: Take New York Knicks -1.5 at -110
The Total:
The under has hit in the Bucks’ last seven outings at any location, but the total has gone over in six of their previous seven showings as underdogs. On the other side, the under is 5-3 in the Knicks’ last eight games overall, but the over is 6-2 in their previous eight outings as favorites.
While the Bucks prefer a fast pace, the Knicks play at the fourth-lowest pace in the league. New York should force Milwaukee into half-court basketball, so I’m going with the under.
Pick: Go under 216.5 points at -110
