Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/25/2018

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Milwaukee Bucks travel to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks on Tuesday, December 25, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Milwaukee as 5 point favorites.

The Bucks have a record of 22-10. They are 1st in the Central Division. They have a point differential of 8.4 as they average 116.9 points per game while giving up 108.5 per contest. The Knicks have an overall mark of 9-25. They currently are 5th in the Atlantic Division. They total 108.6 points per contest and give up 115.9, which is a point differential of -7.3.

Valuable Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Bucks are 16-15-1 against the spread

The Milwaukee Bucks are 17-15-0 against the over/under

Important New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 16-17-1 against the spread

The New York Knicks are 19-15-0 against the over/under

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

12/23/18 F Ersan Ilyasova Nose is out indefinitely
12/22/18 G Malcolm Brogdon Hamstring is questionable Tuesday vs New York

Key New York Knicks Injuries

12/22/18 G Allonzo Trier Hamstring is questionable Tuesday vs Milwaukee
10/11/18 F Kristaps Porzingis Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Khris Middleton comes into this contest averaging 17.6 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 87%. Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 26.2 points per game in 33.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 6.0 assists per contest and 12.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 58% for the year while his free throw percentage is 70%.

Player Spotlight

Tim Hardaway averages 21.0 points per game while playing 33.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.2 rebounds per game and has 3.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Enes Kanter averages 15.0 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 27.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 11.1 rebounds per contest and 2.0 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Milwaukee averages 116.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.4 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 8th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 17th in the league. They average 49.9 rebounds per game and 26.3 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 11th with 14.5 per game. The Bucks allow 108.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 10th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 23rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.2 rebounds a game which ranks 13th and they give up 24.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 13.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

New York is 21st in the league with 108.6 points per game this year. They are 28th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -7.3. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 22nd in the NBA. They are 15th in the league in rebounding with 45.0 boards per game, and 29th in assists per contest with 19.9. The Knicks are 19th in turnovers per game with 13.7. The Knicks surrender 115.9 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 26.1 assists allowed per contest and 27th with 46.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Knicks are 11th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.7 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Bucks are 4th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.5, and their defensive rating of 105.3 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 102.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shots, ranking 2nd in the league. Milwaukee is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New York is 23rd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 2nd in the NBA. The Knicks are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 114.9, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 29th. They are 13th in the NBA in pace with 99.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 29th. As a unit they are 26th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 23rd in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Bucks/Knicks NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take New York +5

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