Highly-intriguing Eastern Conference teams square off on Friday evening at Fiserv Forum. The Milwaukee Bucks welcome the New York Knicks to town, with the Bucks looking to stop a three-game losing streak. Milwaukee is 4-4 overall this season, with the reigning NBA champions battling injuries. New York is 5-3 in 2021-22, including a 3-1 record on the road. Brook Lopez (back) and Khris Middleton (medical protocols) will both miss this game for Milwaukee.
Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET in Milwaukee. Caesars Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as a four-point home favorite, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 216.5 in the latest Knicks vs. Bucks odds. Before making any Bucks vs. Knicks picks or NBA predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned almost $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model finished up almost $600 on its top-rated picks last season and enters Week 3 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 106-71 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Knicks and just locked in its coveted picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Knicks vs. Bucks:
- Knicks vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -4
- Knicks vs. Bucks over-under: 216.5 points
- Knicks vs. Bucks money line: Bucks -190, Knicks +160
- NYK: The Knicks are 4-4 against the spread in 2021-22
- MIL: The Bucks are 4-4 against the spread this season
Featured Game | Milwaukee Bucks vs. New York Knicks
Why the Knicks can cover
New York is playing well offensively and keeping up its defensive prowess from the 2020-21 season. Offensively, the Knicks rank in the top three of the NBA in overall efficiency (112.2 points per 100 possessions), true shooting percentage (57.3 percent) and 3-point percentage (39.3 percent). New York is also a top-10 group in ball security, committing a turnover on only 13.5 percent of possessions, and the Knicks are near the top of the NBA in free-throw creation rate.
On the defensive side, the Knicks were elite a year ago and, even with offense-leaning personnel added in the offseason, New York remains in the top five in field-goal percentage allowed (42.9 percent). The Knicks also rank in the top 10 in the NBA in 2-point shooting allowed, blocked shots, second-chance points allowed and points allowed in the paint. Milwaukee is also scuffling a bit on offense, ranking in the bottom ten of the NBA in offensive rebound rate and assists per game.
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee is the reigning NBA champion, putting together a dominant run a season ago. The Bucks have established top-tier units on offense and defense when at full strength, ranking as a top-five team in field-goal percentage on both ends last season. This season, Milwaukee’s numbers are lagging behind due to injury absences, but Giannis Antetokounmpo remains an elite player. He is averaging 27.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.0 blocks per game, with the reigning NBA Finals MVP also shooting 61.1 percent on two-point attempts.
New York’s defense is No. 25 in the NBA in defensive rating right now, with below-average marks in turnover creation, defensive rebounding and free-throw rate allowed this season. Milwaukee can contest shots at a high level and, when the Knicks miss, the Bucks are an outstanding defensive rebounding team in grabbing 74.2 percent of available rebounds.
How to make Knicks vs. Bucks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 209 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 70 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Bucks vs. Knicks? And which side of the spread hits in almost 70 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
