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New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
Nov. 5, 2021
Eytan Shander
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Things have certainly cooled for the Knicks after one of the hottest starts in the NBA. The Bucks are lucky to be .500 on the year dealing with a stack of injuries. Milwaukee hosts New York 7:30 p.m. ET Friday night on ESPN.

Score Prediction

Knicks 112, Bucks 104

Best Bets

Knicks +5

New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Predictions

The hits just keep on coming for the Bucks as bodies keep hitting the injury list. Add Khris Middleton as the latest – he is out with COVID. The Bucks are already out Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday as starters, although Holiday may return.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is already a one-man wrecking crew – and will have to up the ante even more against the Knicks. New York has a trio of guards that can score and get to the rim, so just having Holiday back doesn’t mean the Bucks can slow them down. The Bucks PG missed six of eight games including five straight, so conditioning will be an issue for Holiday – mainly from a two-way standpoint. Giannis is good enough to keep this a game, but the Bucks are shorthanded and just beat the Pistons to stop a three-game skid. This is the Knicks’ game to lose.

After such a promising start to the season the Knicks dropped their last two games. It’s a great opportunity to stop that mini skid by taking on a depleted Bucks team. Outside of their most recent loss to the Pacers, the Knicks are still scoring. They are 4th in the NBA in PPG as a team. The Pacers game provided some good and bad for the Knicks directly heading into this game on Friday night.

First, New York got healthier in their frontcourt. Both Taj Gibson and Nerlens Noelwill be available against the Bucks – more bodies to throw at Giannis. Second, Kemba Walkerfailed to hit multiple threes for the first time this season – something less likely to happen for a second straight game.

We know what Giannis will bring, but where else is he going to get the help? The biggest question the Bucks need to answer centers around the replacement of Middleton’s production. It’s not just going to Giannis – although he’s live to score 50+ any night – and the Bucks have struggled to score even with Middleton on the floor.

They don’t have the depth to keep up withRJ Barrett and Julius Randle, nor do they have the scoring potential to match baskets with the Knicks. If Milwaukee slows the game down, they have a shot at keeping it close, but there’s no home court advantage for a team that’s missing at least four key players.

Barrett has been the bright spot over the past two losses, but this is a Randle game on Friday. The Knicks get two bigs back in Noel and Gibson which will immediately take pressure off Randle on the defensive side of the floor.

The offense should look smoother with Randle getting back to what we saw at the start of the year. Randle does come off a double-double against the Pacers, but the point production needs to increase for the Knicks to get back on track. It will happen against a weaker Bucks frontcourt. The Bucks defend the three well, but the Knicks shoot it better. That’s the bigger advantage for New York.

New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

  • Knicks +165
  • Bucks -195
  • Knicks +4.5 (-110)
  • Bucks -4.5 (-110)
  • Over 217.5 (-110)
  • Under 217.5 (-110)

New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Resources

  • Matchup: Atlantic vs. Central
  • Date: Friday, November 5, 2021
  • Venue: Fiserv Forum
  • Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • TV-Time: ESPN - 7:30 p.m. ET

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New York Knicks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 5-3
  • ATS: 4-4
  • O/U: 5-3
Evan Fournier and Walker are fitting in nicely with their new team.

Fournier averages 16.4 PPG and Walker is at 13.6. Neither are averaging more than 3.5 APG. Derrick Rose is the final Knick in double-figures with 11.4 PPG. Mitchell Robinson is the second-leading rebounder with 8.9 RPG on the season.

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 4-4
  • ATS: 4-4
  • O/U: 2-6

Giannis leads the Bucks with 27.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 6.4 APG. He’s also shooting 53.4 percent from the floor. He’s all over the place but could be without the next top two scorers. Middleton is at 20 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 4.5 APG.

Grayson Allen has stepped in with 13 PPG but only shooting 39% from the field. Pat Connaughton comes off the bench adding 11 PPG – the same number Bobby Portis is adding each night. Both guys are grabbing just over 5 RPG.


Milwaukee has seen the road team cover the spread in six straight games. (AP)

New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Head-to-Head

The first matchup between these two teams will be Friday night in Milwaukee. The Bucks are 1-3 at home – their lone win coming in the season opener against Brooklyn.

Key Players to Watch

  • NYK: Julius Randle (20.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 5.9 apg)
  • NYK: R.J. Barrett (19.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
  • MIL: Giannis Antetokoumpo (27.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 6.4 apg)
  • MIL: Pat Connaughton - SG (11 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

Injuries

  • MIL: Khris Middleton - SF (Out)
  • MIL: Jrue Holiday - PG (Out)
  • MIL: Brook Lopez - C (Out)

New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Conclusion

The Bucks are 1-2 ATS as the home favorite and find themselves dealing with a larger number. The Knicks have the better roster – healthier roster too. The Knicks also bomb from three, hitting just under 40% of their three-pointers as a team.

That’s second in the entire league. No matter how well the Bucks are built to defend the three, not having everyone there takes that away. The Knicks are just better, they win outright against the Bucks.

New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

  • Milwaukee has seen the road team cover the spread in six straight games.
  • Milwaukee has gone UNDER the point total in six straight home games.
  • Milwaukee has won eight of its last nine home games when facing New York.

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