Knicks vs. Bucks prediction: NBA odds, picks, best bets

The NBA In-Season Tournament kicks off Friday night with a matchup between the Bucks and Knicks in Milwaukee.

The stakes are high for this tournament (each player on the winning team receives $500,000), which just might be the motivation needed to get these teams kicked into gear after slow starts to seasons of high expectations.

Milwaukee, the preseason co-betting favorite to win it all after adding guard Damian Lillard, has struggled to find cohesion under first-year coach Adrian Griffin.

While some of the early issues were expected with all of the changes, the team’s first four games have been mystifying — two blowout defeats, a one-point victory over Philadelphia, and a win over the Heat in which the Bucks nearly blew a 25-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Most of the Bucks’ early problems have been on the defensive end.

After giving up 130 points to the Raptors on Wednesday, they fell to last in defensive efficiency.

This is just a season removed from Milwaukee ranking fourth in the league in the same category.

Conversely, the Knicks rank No. 2 overall after back-to-back games against Cleveland in which the Cavs failed to break 100 points in either game. 

It was the third straight game in which the Knicks held their opponent under the century mark, although it resulted in two defeats, mostly because the Knicks have had issues scoring themselves.

Betting on the NBA?

Only three NBA teams have a lower offensive efficiency rating than they do.

While these teams are both struggling, it’s been for opposite reasons.

Because of these equalizers, we should see a close game. Bet the home team, maybe even sprinkle the New York moneyline.

The play: Knicks +5.5, +190 ML (BetRivers Sportsbook)