Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
This is the first meeting of the 2026-27 season between the teams. The Knicks are the heavy favorites at home against a struggling Bucks squad that is off to one of its worst starts in franchise history.
Injury Reports
Milwaukee Bucks
Tyler Herro: Questionable (right knee contusion; suffered a scare in the Nov. 8 loss to Boston but returned to play).
Gary Trent Jr.: Day-to-day/Out (illness; missed the Nov. 8 game).
Kam Jones: Day-to-day (ankle).
New York Knicks
Josh Hart: Questionable/Day-to-day (right ankle soreness; has missed recent games and is targeting a return around Nov. 10).
Other notes from some reports include Drew Eubanks (out) and N’Faly Dante (questionable), though primary focus remains on Hart.
Current Key Roster Notes / Projected Key Contributors
Knicks (core rotation): Jalen Brunson (PG), Mikal Bridges (G/F), OG Anunoby (F), Karl-Anthony Towns (C/F), Josh Hart (if available), with support from Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, Andre Drummond, Jose Alvarado, and others. Head coach: Mike Brown.
Bucks (rebuilt post-Giannis era): Tyler Herro (leading scorer), Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Ryan Rollins, Brayden Burries, Kel’el Ware, AJ Green, Nate Ament, and others (including Caris LeVert). Head coach: Taylor Jenkins.
The Bucks roster reflects major offseason changes, including the trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Herro, Jaquez, and others acquired in related deals.
Recent Team Forms
Bucks (1-9, L6): Extremely poor start. They are averaging roughly 108.4 points scored and 121.6 allowed (near the bottom of the league in defensive rating and point differential around -13). Recent results include losses to Boston (117-97 on Nov. 8), Toronto (121-107), Boston (109-102), Minnesota (112-100), and Cleveland (136-111). Their lone win came earlier against Indiana. They are 0-4 on the road and struggling with efficiency and defense.
Knicks (5-4, W3): Solid and trending upward after an uneven start. They are averaging about 109.9 points scored and a strong 104.2 allowed (top-tier defense). Recent wins include Cleveland (109-97 on Nov. 7), Chicago (135-105), and Brooklyn (103-90). They are 3-2 at home and seeking a fourth straight home win. Brunson and Towns have been key drivers.
Key Player Matchups
Jalen Brunson vs. Bucks backcourt (Herro/Rollins/Burries): Brunson (averaging ~26 PPG) will look to exploit Milwaukee’s defense, which ranks near the bottom. Herro (team-high ~21.4 PPG) is Milwaukee’s primary offensive engine and must create efficiently.
Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Myles Turner / Kel’el Ware: Towns provides scoring and rebounding punch inside/out. Turner offers rim protection (strong blocks numbers), while Ware contributes rebounding and athleticism off the bench or in rotation.
OG Anunoby / Mikal Bridges wing defense vs. Kyle Kuzma / Jaime Jaquez Jr.: New York’s versatile wings should pressure Milwaukee’s forwards. Kuzma has shown scoring bursts (e.g., 27 vs. Boston); Jaquez provides two-way play.
Secondary creation and bench: Knicks’ depth (Shamet, McBride, Clarkson, Drummond) vs. Bucks’ mix of young talent (Burries, Ament, Rollins) and veterans. Pace and transition could favor New York if they force turnovers against Milwaukee’s lower-steal defense.
Series History
First meeting of the 2026-27 season (0-0). Recent history has been competitive but leans slightly toward Milwaukee in some longer samples (e.g., roughly even or Bucks edge in meetings since 2020-21 in available data). Knicks have had strong showings in certain recent encounters, including larger-margin wins in prior seasons. Full historical context varies by exact window, but home-court and current form heavily favor New York here.
Betting Trends
Knicks strong at home recently and on a three-game win streak; Bucks winless on the road and on a six-game skid with poor defensive metrics. Models project Knicks win probabilities in the mid-to-high 80% range, with projected margins around 11–15+ points and totals near 220–225.
New York’s superior defense, home-court advantage at MSG, better recent form, and star power (Brunson + Towns) should control the game. Milwaukee’s offense has shown flashes (Herro, Kuzma scoring nights), but consistent defensive lapses and the road setting make an upset unlikely. A competitive first half is possible, but the Knicks’ depth and ability to pull away in the second half project a double-digit home win.
Game Odds
Milwaukee Bucks 220
New York Knicks – 16
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Monday, November 9, 2026
