New York @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 21, 2019 ) Milwaukee 123, New York 102

The Milwaukee Bucks are on pace for a 70-win season after reaching the midway point of their schedule. The team with the NBA's best record looks to add another victory when it hosts the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

The Bucks have been playing like a team with a lot to prove despite an incredible first half of the season. "Obviously, teams are going to come and play hard against us, but at the end of the day we have to be the hunters," star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters. "We have to have that mentality. That's what we've been doing. We've won 35 games and played 41. That's crazy." The Knicks have lost in each of their past six visits to Milwaukee, including a 132-88 drubbing last season. New York enters this contest on a high note after rallying to post a 124-121 home victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday to snap a five-game losing skid.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: MSG, FS Wisconsin

ABOUT THE KNICKS (11-29): The defense has been shaky while allowing an average of 124 points over the past six games and that's not an ideal thing when it comes to trying to slow down the Bucks, who are tied with the Houston Rockets for the best scoring average (119.2) in the NBA. But New York's offense was stout against Miami and had a 40-27 scoring edge in the fourth quarter to swoop in and notch the victory. Power forward Julius Randle recorded 26 points and eight rebounds and rookie swingman RJ Barrett had 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

ABOUT THE BUCKS (35-6): Antetokounmpo registered 32 points and 17 rebounds in Saturday's 122-101 win over the host Portland Trail Blazers after scoring a season-low 13 points one night earlier against the Sacramento Kings when he took only nine shots (making four). "Usually when I'm not aggressive the previous game, I come out the next game more aggressive," Antetokounmpo told reporters after Saturday's triumph. "I can remember since I started playing basketball and that's what we did (Saturday)." Forward Khris Middleton (30 points) and point guard Eric Bledsoe (29) also enjoyed stellar performances against the Trail Blazers.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Bucks have won four straight meetings and 10 of the past 11.

2. New York F Marcus Morris (neck) will likely miss his fifth straight game.

3. Milwaukee reached the 100-point mark in 65 straight games, the longest streak since the Dallas Mavericks had a 67-game run from Jan. 15 to Dec. 10, 1986.

PREDICTION: Bucks 126, Knicks 94