New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks odds, picks and predictions

Payton Shanks | Staff Writer

The New York Knicks (2-3) visit the Milwaukee Bucks (2-2) in the 1st game of the NBA In-Season Tournament group play stage. Tip-off from Fiserv Forum is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Knicks vs. Bucks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: First meeting; Milwaukee won 3-0 last season

New York lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 95-89 Wednesday, failing to cover as a 5.5-point favorite. New York has been held to under 90 points twice on the season. The Knicks had 3 starters score less than 10 points in the loss to Cleveland, and F Josh Hart only scored 11. The Knicks shot terribly, just 34.8% from the field, 16.7% from 3, and 66.7% from the stripe.

Milwaukee, yet again, looked like a team that has a lot to figure out as the Bucks lost 130-111 to the Toronto Raptors Wednesday. Milwaukee failed to cover as a 4-point road favorite. The superstar duo of G Damian Lillard and F Giannis Antetokounmpo combined for only 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. Milwaukee allowing a struggling Toronto offense to score 130 in regulation is a concern.

Knicks at Bucks odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:22 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Knicks +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Bucks -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Knicks +6.5 (-105) | Bucks -6.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)

Knicks at Bucks key injuries

Knicks

G RJ Barrett (knee) questionable

Bucks

G Andre Jackson Jr. (hip) questionable

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Knicks at Bucks picks and predictions

Prediction

Bucks 112, Knicks 107

Moneyline

PASS.

Both New York and Milwaukee are very difficult teams to bet on right now. Milwaukee has a lot to figure out on both sides of the ball and you never know which version of New York will show up. Neither bet is safer than the other for this matchup.

Against the spread

LEAN KNICKS +6.5 (-105).

The sooner Milwaukee learns to utilize the Lillard and Antetokounmpo pick-and-roll, the sooner its offense will improve, but I have no reason to believe that will happen here. Milwaukee's offensive inconsistencies coupled with its struggles on defense will help New York keep this one close, even if the Knicks don't shoot the ball well.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 227.5 (+100).

New York has a very inconsistent offense that has rare nights of phenomenal shooting, but more often than not the Knicks struggle to shoot the ball. The Knicks have been held to under 105 points 3 times on the season and have only scored more than 120 points once. The Bucks have struggled defensively, but New York's abysmal offense will help mask some of those deficiencies. With these 2 struggling offenses the Under should be good here.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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