New York @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 27, 2018 ) New York 96, Milwaukee 112

The Milwaukee Bucks have a great opportunity to record their longest winning streak since 1982 when they host the stumbling New York Knicks on Monday. The Bucks had no issues extending their winning streak to 11 games with a 137-96 rout of the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday to begin a two-game homestand.

Giannis Antetokounmpo saw his double-double streak to begin the season end at 19 games, but it was largely due to the fact that he was only needed for 20 minutes, during which he still managed 26 points. "I should have left him in," Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer joked with reporters about leaving Antetokounmpo in during a blowout. "He's doing amazing things and there's more to come. We're trying to have conversations with him about being healthy and fresh and how important that is." The Knicks are streaking in the other direction with six consecutive losses, the latest a 113-104 setback to the Boston Celtics at home Sunday. New York led by six with under eight minutes remaining before the late collapse.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE KNICKS (4-16): Julius Randle scored 26 points while making 10 of his 13 free throws, but his teammates were 16-of-24 from the line and coach David Fizdale was not happy with his team's inability to cash in on the freebies. "It's biting us," Fizdale told reporters. "We missed 11. Can't miss 11 free throws against the Boston Celtics and win a close game. We just gotta stay with it, we're gonna come up with creative ways to try to make them better at it." New York entered Sunday last in the NBA by a good margin with a 67.2 percent mark from the charity stripe.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (17-3): Eight other players joined Antetokounmpo in double figures in Saturday's win, including Khris Middleton, who had 15 points in just 16 minutes in his best game since returning from a thigh injury last week. Robin Lopez started in place of brother Brook and chipped in a season-high 13 points while making 3-of-5 from 3-point range. "Numbers speak for themselves, right," Robin Lopez, who is 7-of-13 from 3-point range over his last eight games. "We got a lot of motion. We did a great job moving the ball, moving without the ball."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Knicks PG Frank Ntilikina (back) left Sunday's loss and is day-to-day.

2. Bucks PG Eric Bledsoe scored a season-low two points against the Hornets but matched his season high with 10 assists against zero turnovers.

3. Milwaukee has won five in a row at home against New York, including two last season.

PREDICTION: Bucks 119, Knicks 99