Bucks vs Knicks Christmas Day Prediction & Player Prop Picks: Eye Lillard, Giannis, and Brunson in the Opener

This year’s quintet of Christmas Day NBA contests opens with the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden (12:00 pm ET, ESPN).

Christmas Day is one of the most anticipated days on the NBA calendar every year, as we often get to see a number of the league’s best players, teams, and rivalries on display across the festive slate.

Today’s matchup between the Bucks (22-7, 6-5 away) and Knicks (16-12, 7-4 home) certainly fits the bill with star power.

It features five players who are currently in the top 50 in the league in scoring in Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.8 PPG, 5th), Damian Lillard (26.0 PPG, 14th), Jalen Brunson (25.6 PPG, 16th), Julius Randle (22.8 PPG, 27th), and RJ Barrett (18.3 PPG, 49th).

Picks in this piece are courtesy of Bovada, where you can get great odds on all of the top NBA & college basketball matchups every day.

Milwaukee will be taking the court this afternoon looking for an eighth straight win and to wrap up a road sweep of New York, following a 130-111 win at MSG on Saturday.

In Saturday’s game, Brunson scored 36 points and dished out seven assists, while Randle went as 26 points and eight rebounds.

But a balanced attack by the Bucks proved to be too much for the Knicks, with Giannis (28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists), Bobby Portis (23 points, 11 assists), Khris Middleton (20 points, five rebounds, five assists) all hitting the 20-point mark to help Milwaukee move back over .500 on the road.

Who will lead the way in today’s rematch? There are three Bucks vs Knicks player props that I have zeroed in on.

Bucks vs Knicks Odds

Odds are courtesy of Bovada. If you’re interested in trying them out, we recommend checking out our Bovada review.

Spread

• Milwaukee Bucks -4 (-110)
• New York Knicks +4 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 242.5 (-110)
• Under 242.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Milwaukee Bucks -175
• New York Knicks +150

Bucks vs Knicks Prediction

While Milwaukee is a rather robust 16-2 at home, they have been more mortal on the road. However, when things have clicked for them away from Fiserv Forum, they have really clicked.

In their six road wins, the Bucks have scored 129, 128, 130, 142, 131, and 130 points, compared to 111, 124, 97, 116, and 113 in their five road losses.

How well will things click for Milwaukee today after they shot 52.7% from the field and 50% from three in Saturday’s win? Early tip times aren’t always the most exciting offensively, but even if that does end up being the case, the Bucks are likely to come out on the winning end based on their success against the Knicks thus far this season and in recent seasons.

This will be the final regular season meeting between the two teams, and the Knicks likely won’t be all that upset about that. With a win today, Milwaukee will sweep the season series and record a tenth straight win over New York, continuing a streak that started in the 2021-22 season.

Bucks vs Knicks Head-to-Head Results This Season

• December 23 (Madison Square Garden): 130-111 Bucks
• December 5 (Fiserv Forum): 146-122 Bucks
• November 3 (Fiserv Forum): 110-105 Bucks

The Knicks are 7-2 SU (5-4 ATS) at home since dropping their first two home games this season, but will they pick a fine festive time to finally find a way past the Bucks today? I don’t think so.

Best Player Prop Bets for Bucks vs Knicks

All player prop odds listed below are courtesy of Bovada.

Damian Lillard Over 3.5 Made Threes (+110)

Lillard was only 6 of 16 from the field in Saturday’s win, but he made 3 of 7 from three, taking him to 12 of 21 from three in his three games against the Knicks this season.

Lillard has made four or more threes only three times in nine road games thus far, but I feel quite good about this pick given that he has made four or more threes more times (six) than he has not (four) this month.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 16.5 Rebounds + Assists (-120)

Giannis recorded only 14 rebounds + assists in Saturday’s win, but that number will be higher today if his recent performance pattern continues.

In each of the previous four instances in which he had fewer than 15 rebounds + assists, he has tallied at least 17 rebounds + assists in the next game.

• 14 rebounds (8) + assists (6) vs Pistons on 12/16, 20 rebounds (17) + assists (3) vs Rockets on 12/17
• 12 rebounds (10) + assists (2) vs Pacers on 12/7, 18 rebounds (12) + assists (6) vs Bulls on 12/11
• 12 rebounds (9) + assists (3) vs Wizards on 11/24, 22 rebounds (16) + assists (6) vs Trail Blazers on 11/26
• 13 rebounds (11) + assists (2) vs Bulls on 11/13, 17 rebounds (8) + assists (9) at Hornets on 11/17

Jalen Brunson Under 27.5 Points (-115)

Brunson has now had two big games against the Bucks, with Saturday’s effort joining the 45-piece he had in the loss at Milwaukee on November 3.

But expectations for more prolific point production today should be tempered. Brunson has scored 30+ points eight times this season, but in the previous seven instances, he has averaged 19.1 PPG in the following game and scored 27 or more points just once.

Notably, after his 45-point game at Fiserv Forum last month, he had just seven points (2 of 12 FG) in the next game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Where to Bet on Bucks vs Knicks and Other NBA Games

Many of the top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of NBA odds throughout the year.

In addition to being able to bet on 2024 NBA championship odds, you can make daily NBA picks on games all season long, including tonight’s Mavericks vs Spurs matchup in San Antonio.

Also, you can bet on the NBA All-Star Game and the major awards like NBA MVP, NBA Rookie of the Year, and more at most reputable sports betting sites.

There are numerous sports betting sites you can choose from that are good for NBA betting. Here are several books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetDSI
• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Bovada
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

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