New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/27/2018

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New York Knicks head to Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, December 27, 2018. The opening line for this game has Milwaukee as 14 point favorites.

The Knicks have a record of 9-26. They are 5th in the Atlantic Division. They have a point differential of -7.5 as they average 108.2 points per game while giving up 115.7 per contest. The Bucks have an overall mark of 23-10. They currently are 1st in the Central Division. They total 116.6 points per contest and give up 108.1, which is a point differential of 8.6.

Valuable New York Knicks Betting Trends

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

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

Important Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

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

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

Key New York Knicks Injuries

10/11/18 F Kristaps Porzingis Knee is out indefinitely

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

12/23/18 F Ersan Ilyasova Nose is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Tim Hardaway comes into this game averaging 20.8 points per contest while playing 33.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is 85%. Enes Kanter averages 14.9 points per contest in 27.2 minutes per game. He averages 2.0 assists per game and 10.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 55% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Khris Middleton scores 17.2 points per contest while playing 31.2 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.9 rebounds per contest and has 3.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 87%. Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 26.4 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 12.8 rebounds per game and has 5.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage is 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

New York averages 108.2 points per contest, which is 22nd in the league. Their average scoring margin is -7.5 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 28th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 24th in the NBA. They average 45.3 boards per contest and 19.8 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 29th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 20th with 13.7 per game. The Knicks allow 115.7 points per contest, which is 27th in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 25th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.7 rebounds a game which ranks 27th, and they allow 26.0 assists per game which puts them in 29th place in the league. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Milwaukee is 1st in the NBA with 116.6 points per contest this season. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 8.58. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 19th in the league. They are 1st in the NBA in rebounding with 49.9 boards per contest and 5th in assists per game with 26.2. The Bucks are 12th in turnovers per contest with 14.3. The Bucks give up 108.1 points per game, which ranks them 10th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 1st and 19th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 24.1 dimes allowed per game and 15th with 44.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Bucks are 8th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Knicks are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.2, and their defensive rating of 114.6 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 30th. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 23rd in the league. New York is 23rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Milwaukee is 13th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 30th in the NBA. The Bucks are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 104.9, and their offensive rating of 113.3 is ranked 4th. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 102.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 1st. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shot attempts, ranking 2nd in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take New York +14

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