Things are going from bad to worse for the New York Knicks as they crashed to their sixth consecutive defeat with a gut-wrenching 105-104 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. The Knicks simply had no answer for the Bucks’ firepower as five Milwaukee players scored in double-figures. The Knicks will look to get their season back on track when they face the Bucks in an immediate rematch tonight. For New York to snap its losing skid this evening, it needs to improve on its play on the defensive end. The Knicks have allowed at least 100 points in each of the six losses during the streak.
Another source of concern for head coach Jeff Hornacek is his team’s growing injury crisis. The Knicks are still getting to grips with the absence of Kristaps Porzingis who’s out with a sore Achilles. They are 0-3 since Porzingis suffered that ill-fated injury. With Porzingis still a major doubt for tonight’s clash, the onus is on Carmelo Anthony to carry the offensive cudgels for the Knicks. He erupted for 30 points in the loss to Milwaukee.
The Knicks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.
For the Bucks to record their fourth consecutive win tonight, they will need to get another huge performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak scored a team-high 27 points against the Knicks on Wednesday, including the game-winning jumper at the buzzer. Antetokounmpo has been a vital cog in Milwaukee’s success this season, leading the team not only in scoring (25.0 PPG) but also in rebounds (9.1 RPG), assists (5.9 APG), steals (1.9 SPG) and blocks (2.0 BPG) as well.
He now has at least 20 points in 13 straight games, the longest streak by a Milwaukee player since Michael Redd had 14 in a row in 2006. Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Knicks side that is sixth-worst in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing a whopping 108.4 points per game this season. They wreaked havoc against that New York D on Wednesday, shooting 47.4 percent from the field.
The Bucks are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Milwaukee stretches its unbeaten run to four games with a comprehensive 113-99 victory.
