New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, Odds & Picks | 02.27.26

New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, Odds & NBA Picks | 02.27.26

The Eastern Conference landscape presents a stark contrast this Friday as the surging New York Knicks (37-22) travel to the Fiserv Forum to face a shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks (26-31) squad. While New York looks to solidify its seeding among the elite, Milwaukee is fighting to stay relevant in a season defined by inconsistency and significant health setbacks.

New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks Matchup Preview

New York Knicks Key Stats & Trends

The Knicks have evolved into a disciplined juggernaut behind the elite playmaking of Jalen Brunson. New York’s offense thrives on high-percentage looks and elite floor spacing provided by Karl-Anthony Towns. Their ability to dominate the glass and limit second-chance points makes them a defensive nightmare for struggling rotations.

• Points: Jalen Brunson (26.7)
• Rebounds: Karl-Anthony Towns (11.7)
• Assists: Jalen Brunson (6.1)
• Rating: Jalen Brunson (26.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 6.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG)

Injury Report New York Knicks

• Miles McBride (Out): McBride will undergo surgery for a core muscle injury and may be sidelined until the playoffs, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.

Milwaukee Bucks Key Stats & Trends

Milwaukee is currently navigating a transitional phase, relying heavily on the backcourt duo of Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. With their primary superstar sidelined, the Bucks have shifted to a high-volume perimeter game, but their defensive rating has suffered significantly without elite rim protection.

• Points: Ryan Rollins (17.2)
• Rebounds: Bobby Portis (6.5)
• Assists: Ryan Rollins (5.4)
• Rating: Kevin Porter Jr. (18.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.6 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG)

Injury Report Milwaukee Bucks

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (Out): Antetokounmpo is out for Friday’s game against the Knicks with a right calf strain.
• Taurean Prince (Out): The Bucks applied for a Disabled Player Exception for Prince earlier this month, indicating that they anticipate that he’s “substantially more likely than not” to be unable to play through June 15, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reports.

New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks Prediction & Best Bet

The absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo creates a massive void in Milwaukee’s interior defense that Karl-Anthony Towns is perfectly equipped to exploit. While Rollins and Porter Jr. provide scoring sparks, they lack the efficiency to keep pace with New York’s 26.7 PPG leader, Jalen Brunson. We expect New York to control the tempo and capitalize on Milwaukee’s depleted frontcourt.

Our definitive pick is New York Knicks -7.5 (Spread). Furthermore, with Milwaukee missing their primary offensive engine and New York likely slowing the game down once they establish a lead, the under on the 221.5 total is the most data-backed play for this matchup.