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Bucks vs Knicks: Is it payback time in New York?
The New York Knicks will host the Milwaukee Bucks for the second consecutive game in Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day. The Bucks handled things easily in the previous game, and the Knicks are determined to return the favor.
How good are the Bucks?
Going into the season, the Bucks made a huge splash, landing Damian Lillard. The veteran point guard needed some time to adapt to the new team, but it seems like he is ready to prove that he is still one of the best scorers in the game. The Bucks are currently second in the Eastern Conference with a 22-7 record and are 9-1 in the last 10 games. Giannis Antetokounmpo is having another impressive year, averaging 30.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
Are the Knicks for real this season?
The Knicks fans have been waiting for a while for a serious team that may bring playoff action to the Big Apple. That waiting may be over, as this Knicks team looks pretty good this year. Currently, they are sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 16-12 record, including 7-4 at MSG. The Knicks won back-to-back games on the road against the Lakers and the Nets before losing to the Bucks. Jalen Brunson is the leading scorer on the team, averaging 25.6 points.
Betting Trends
The Bucks have won the last 5 games on the road against the Knicks. They are 15-6 after a win this season, 17-4 in non-division games, and 6-4 as an away favorite.
Last game recap
The Bucks defeated the Knicks 130-111 on Friday for their seventh consecutive win. The Bucks shot 52.7% from the field and 50% from deep. Antetokounmpo led the team with 28 points, followed by Bobby Portis Jr., who had 23 off the bench. For the Knicks, Brunson had 36 points, while Julius Randle added 26 points and 8 rebounds.
Injury Reports
Jae Crowder is out for the Bucks while the Knicks are without Mitchell Robinson, DaQuan Jeffries and Jericho Sims.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Milwaukee Bucks are the hottest team in the league, having won the last seven games and are a 3.5-point favorite in this game. They proved they could beat the Knicks on Friday, winning by 19. The Bucks may not hit 16 three-pointers this time around, but there is no doubt that they will control the game. The Knicks are not the same team on the defensive end without Mitchell Robinson, who suffered a season-ending injury. The Knicks have no players that can even try to slow down Antetokounmpo and Lillard, and no matter how hard they try, the Bucks are taking home the victory.
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