New York’s stronger start and Milwaukee’s struggling defense set the stakes, with key availability questions looming.
The Knicks host the Bucks Tuesday night with a 5-4 record and an 11th-ranked power index, while Milwaukee is 1-9 and ranks 30th. New York’s power-index recent win percentage is 80%, compared with 0% for the Bucks, who are allowing 121.6 points per game. Jalen Brunson has 236 points and 50 assists in nine games, while Karl-Anthony Towns has 122 rebounds; Milwaukee’s Tyler Herro, who has scored 214 points, is questionable. The matchup turns on whether the Bucks can contain New York’s leading scorers and whether their offense can exploit a Knicks defense allowing 104.2 points per game; Josh Hart is also questionable for New York.