New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, NBA Odds
After another eventful offseason filled with plenty of drama and storylines, the NBA regular season is finally here. The 2025-26 campaign is barely a week old, and we’ve already seen enough exciting games and jaw-dropping performances to last an entire season. One of the more intriguing matchups on Tuesday’s slate features the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks in a battle between two Eastern Conference teams that are in “Finals or bust” mode.
With tip-off set for 7 p.m. ET, let’s get into the odds and betting trends, plus my predictions for this contest.
Knicks vs. Bucks NBA Betting Odds
New York is a 1.5-point favourite on the road in this game, with the total listed at a pretty high 229.5 on the NBA odds, as oddsmakers are expecting plenty of offence.
Milwaukee has been an against-the-spread darling thus far, with the Bucks covering the spread in each of their three games to this point. On the other side, the Knicks are 2-1 against the number. New York is 2-1 to the Under through three games, while the Bucks are 2-1 to the Over in that same span.
New York Knicks
The Knicks were expected to be among the elite in the NBA this season, and New York has certainly looked the part on offence to this point. Jalen Brunson hasn’t even played his best basketball yet by any means. Still, the supporting cast has looked noticeably improved from last season, thanks to some offseason acquisitions and a change in philosophy from new head coach Mike Brown.
The Knicks’ concerns at the moment are on defence. However, New York has still been able to beat the Cavaliers without two of its starters, and the Knicks should be primed for a bounce-back game against the Bucks following a poor effort against the Heat in a loss a few days ago.
Milwaukee Bucks
As for the hosts, Milwaukee is throwing the kitchen sink at this season in hopes of making one last run at the NBA Finals with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster. To his credit, Antetokounmpo has been a machine through the first three games of this season, averaging 36 points and 16 rebounds against the likes of the Wizards, Raptors, and Cavaliers. The rest of the Milwaukee offence has been serviceable, but it all rests on the shoulders of the Greek Freak.
The Bucks defence has been a decidedly average unit to this point, and this will be the toughest offence they have faced thus far, even if Karl-Anthony Towns is listed as day-to-day on the injury report and his status is uncertain for this game. I expect something of a track meet, and the Knicks’ pace could tire out Milwaukee’s shaky defence on the perimeter.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Knicks vs. Bucks?
Both teams are pretty intriguing on paper, but I have slightly more confidence in the Knicks to get things done on the road, especially following a disappointing loss. If the Bucks end up being a legit contender in the East, then this could be a potential matchup in the playoffs down the road. For now, I’ll target the Knicks to come away with a victory of 117-112.
NY
MIL