Knicks vs Bucks Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: When Will Lillard Show Up?

The Milwaukee Bucks have gotten off to a sluggish start despite adding Damian Lillard in the offseason, and will hope to turn things around in this In-Season Tournament showdown against the offensively-starved New York Knicks, who have scored more than 110 points just once through their first five contests.

The Bucks haven’t been great offensively either, though, as Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo have yet to hit their stride.

Will Milwaukee’s dynamic duo be able to take over against New York tonight and cover a healthy NBA odds spread, or will the Knicks’ stingy defense keep them in check? Find out in our Knicks vs. Bucks NBA picks and predictions for Friday, November 3.

And don't forget to check out Eric Rosales' Giannis Antetokounmpo player props spotlight!

Knicks vs Bucks odds

Knicks vs Bucks predictions

The Bucks come into Friday night on the heels of a brutal 130-111 loss to the Raptors on Wednesday as Malik Beasley led Milwaukee with just 20 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo (16 points) and Damian Lillard (15 points) were both ice-cold as they combined for just nine made field goals.

It’s been an inconsistent start to the season for Lillard, who dropped 39 points against the 76ers in his Bucks debut but has struggled since then, averaging a mere 15.3 points over his last three contests. The point guard was firing on all cylinders in the season opener with 20 field goal attempts, but has seen a steep decline in his shooting rate since then with just 35 total attempts through the last three games.

The Knicks will present another legitimate challenge for the Bucks as New York owns the third-stingiest defense so far this season, allowing just 102 points per game. The Knicks played a tight game against the Celtics in their season opener last Wednesday, falling 108-104, but went shot-for-shot against one of the NBA’s top teams until the final 90 seconds.

Lillard has been solid against New York throughout his career, averaging 25.6 points per game through 19 meetings, but the 33-year-old is figuring out new surroundings while not looking like the scoring weapon he used to be… Which is why I’m banking on him to finish with Under 24.5 points tonight. 

My best bet: Lillard Under 24.5 points (-105 at DraftKings)

Knicks vs Bucks same-game parlay

Lillard Under 24.5 points (-105)

Knicks +6.5 (-110)

Bucks moneyline (-250)

+700 at DraftKings

Although I’m looking for Lillard to finish with Under 24.5 points, I’ll still take the Bucks on the moneyline as part of tonight’s same-game parlay. The Knicks should give them a good fight, though, which is why I’ll also take New York to go against the spread.

The Knicks are 2-3 this season but have lost by more than six points just once — a 96-87 defeat against the Pelicans last Saturday. Their four-point loss against the Celtics demonstrated just how scrappy the Knicks can be, and I expect to see another strong defensive effort vs the Bucks.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Knicks vs Bucks spread and Over/Under analysis

The Bucks come into this matchup as the clear home favorite, opening as the 6.5-point favorite, with the total set between 225,5 and 226.5 points. While the Bucks have been a bit sluggish to start the season, I still think they’ll get the job done, though the Knicks could make this a bit scrappy, which is why I also like the Under.

Milwaukee came into the season as one of the favorites to win the 2024 Finals according to our NBA championship odds, and despite the disappointing 2-2 start, you can’t deny the Bucks’ talent. Even if Antetokounmpo and Lillard have an off night, Milwaukee still boasts capable scorers like Beasley, Khris Middleton, and Bobby Portis who can chip in with 15 or 20 points apiece. 

The star factor of Antetokounmpo and Lillard is also something that the Knicks just can’t keep up with, so if they both come to play they could easily blow the game wide open.

Milwaukee has dominated this matchup in recent years with six straight wins against New York, but these also tend to be pretty low-scoring games, with the Under cashing in six of the last eight meetings. 

The Knicks are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the NBA at both ends of the court, scoring just 103 points per game this season (29th) while allowing just 102 (third) – a recipe to take the Under tonight.

Knicks vs Bucks betting trend to know

Milwaukee is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings at home. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Bucks.

Knicks vs Bucks game info

Knicks vs Bucks latest injuries

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