Milwaukee Bucks vs New York Knicks

In one of the final 10 games of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks will take on the New York Knicks at Fiserv Forum this Saturday.

Both teams head into this matchup following defeats in their last outings, each recording a 2-3 record over their past five games. As they look to regain momentum, securing a win this weekend will be a top priority.

The Bucks have experienced an inconsistent regular season and are currently going through a rough patch, suffering back-to-back losses, the most recent being a 127-117 defeat against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday at Ball Arena.

Adding to their struggles, head coach Doc Rivers is dealing with a significant setback as Damian Lillard has been ruled out indefinitely due to a blood clot issue. Giannis Antetokounmpo was also absent in Denver, leaving Milwaukee at a disadvantage for much of the game.

Despite the loss, one bright spot for the Bucks was center Brook Lopez, who led the team with 26 points. This marked his third consecutive game scoring 20 or more points, a season first for him.

Since enjoying a four-game winning streak between February 28 and March 6, the Bucks have struggled, going 4-7 in their last 11 matchups and slipping from fourth to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. While they are still in a strong position to secure a direct playoff spot, they will be eager to finish the regular season on a high note.

Saturday’s game marks the beginning of a three-game homestand for Milwaukee, but recent history against the Knicks does not favor them. New York has won the last four meetings between the two teams, including both matchups this season.

On the other side, the Knicks were hoping to secure their third straight victory for only the second time this month but fell short against the Los Angeles Clippers, suffering a 126-113 defeat at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

With Jalen Brunson out due to an ankle injury and Damian Lillard out indefinitely due to a blood clot, both of these clubs are without their best point guards.

Brunson was replaced by Miles McBride in the New York Knicks lineup, although he has been sidelined since last Thursday due to a groin injury.

Despite being the next man up and averaging 26 minutes per game over the previous three games, Cameron Payne will not play tonight due to an injured ankle.

Josh Hart has stepped into the role of lead guard, but this presents a valuable opportunity for rookie Tyler Kolek.

Last season, Kolek earned consensus All-American honors at Marquette and led the nation with 7.7 assists per game.

Despite his impressive playmaking, concerns about his age and limited athleticism caused him to slip to the second round of the draft.

For much of the season, Kolek has been stuck on the Knicks' bench, but he showcased his elite vision and passing skills in the G-League, where he averaged 10.0 assists per game across four matchups.

With injuries depleting New York's backcourt, Kolek has finally received playing time and made the most of it. Over his last three games, he has recorded 8, 9, and 7 assists while committing just one turnover.

What makes his performance even more impressive is that he accomplished those numbers in under 20 minutes per game.