Sunday afternoon brings a marquee matchup in the Eastern Conference as the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks clash at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson had a quiet game against Milwaukee earlier this season, but my Bucks vs. Knicks predictions expect him to show out after torching Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. last season.
Keep reading for my NBA picks for Sunday, January 12.
Bucks vs Knicks prediction
My best bet
Jalen Brunson Over 23.5 points (-120 at bet365)
My analysis
Jalen Brunson is having another solid campaign for the Knicks, averaging 25.1 points and 7.5 assists on 38.7% shooting from 3-point land. The guard has gone Over his scoring mark in three of his last four games, pouring in 27 in a loss to the Thunder on Friday night.
He’s also cashed the Over in five of his previous eight games dating back to December 27. While Brunson scored only 15 points against the Milwaukee Bucks in early November, there’s reason to believe he’ll be balling out tonight.
Last season, the 28-year-old averaged 37.2 ppg in five contests against the Bucks. Yes, you read that correctly.
He's played 26 games on one day of rest this season and is averaging 24.1 ppg. After performing well against OKC, I believe you’ll see him replicate that performance here. Plus, the Bucks aren’t the toughest matchup for point guards, allowing 25.8 ppg.
Bucks vs Knicks same-game parlay
Jalen Brunson Over 23.5 points
Damian Lillard Over 3.5 threes
Knicks -3.5
Damian Lillard has always been a great 3-point shooter, and that’s been no different this season. He’s draining 37.7% of his triples, averaging 3.4 makes on 9.1 attempts per night. The veteran has cashed the Over on treys in seven of his last nine outings.
Dame was 3-for-7 on Friday but 4-for-7 and 5-for-8 the two games before that. He’s never shy to let it fly and the Knicks are poor at defending the triple, ranking 26th in the league in opponent 3-point percentage. They’re also allowing teams to shoot 41% from deep over the last three games.
After losing nine in a row to Milwaukee, the Knicks finally broke that skid on Christmas Day in 2023. Since then, they’ve won three straight against the Bucks, covering tonight’s spread in all of those games.
New York is 9-7-1 as a home ATS favorite this season, and their last five wins have come by more than 3.5 points. On top of that, the Knicks are 12-6 at home, while the Bucks are just 8-9 on the road. New York will get back on track tonight at MSG.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Bucks vs Knicks odds
Bucks vs Knicks live odds
Bucks vs Knicks opening odds
- Spread: Milwaukee +4 | New York -4
- Moneyline: Milwaukee +145 | New York -170
- Over/Under: Over 228 | Under 228
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Bucks vs Knicks spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Bucks are 4-3 ATS as a road underdog this season.
- The Knicks are 19-19-1 ATS overall.
- The Over has cashed in two of the last three meetings.
Bucks vs Knicks trend
The Knicks have cashed the fourth-quarter Over in 41 of their last 64 games (+14.65 units / 20% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Knicks.
How to watch Bucks vs Knicks
| Location: | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date: | Sunday, 1-12-2025 |
| Tip-off: | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FDSN - Wisconsin, MSG |
Bucks vs Knicks latest injuries
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