Game Preview: Knicks at Bucks, Oct. 28, 2025

SB Nation

The New York Knicks (2-1) face the Milwaukee Bucks (2-1) at the Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, playing the second game of the season’s first road trip.

On Sunday, the Miami Heat topped New York, 115-107. Jalen

Brunson paced the Knicks’ offense with 37 points on efficient shooting, along with six assists and five boards. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 15 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, and a pair of blocks. Mikal Bridges chipped in 20 points on 70% shooting from the field.

Milwaukee will be looking to rebound from a tough 118–113 loss to Cleveland on October 26. Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly dragged the Bucks to a win on his own, piling up 40 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, while AJ Green stepped up with 20 points and four triples. Still, Milwaukee’s cold night from deep (8-of-26) and the absences of Kyle Kuzma and Cole Anthony made it difficult to keep pace with Cleveland’s balanced scoring.

This summer, Milwaukee reshaped its roster in an effort to keep Giannis happy and avoid a slide into irrelevance after repeated first-round exits and Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury. They moved on from Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez, replacing them with Myles Turner, Kuzma, Anthony, and additional depth pieces like Gary Harris while re-signing key contributors, including Bobby Portis and Gary Trent Jr. The result is a younger, more versatile supporting cast that should defend better and shoot well, but still lacks a proven playmaker to take pressure off Giannis. Most projections slot the Bucks in the mid-40s for wins, earning a playoff spot without serious title expectations, and another early exit feels likely unless someone unexpectedly pops or management swings a big in-season trade.

In their last matchup, New York beat Milwaukee, 116-107. OG Anunoby scored 31 points along with three steals. Mikal Bridges followed with 26 points, five assists, three boards, and two steals of his own. Josh Hart stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with 13 points on efficient shooting, 14 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block. Giannis led the Bucks’ effort, putting up 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Kyle Kuzma chipped in 20 points, five boards, three assists, and a steal, while Ryan Rollins added another 20 points on strong efficiency, collecting five rebounds and four assists.

Injury Report: For the Bucks, Anthony (illness) and Kuzma (ankle) are both day-to-day, and Kevin Porter, Jr. (ankle) is out. For the Knicks, Miles McBride (personal), Karl-Anthony Towns (quad), and Guerschon Yabusele (knee) are questionable, Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is out.

Fun fact: On October 28, 1967, Walt Frazier made his Knicks debut in a 111-98 loss to Detroit at the Garden. Clyde scored two points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished seven dimes over 34 minutes.

Prediction

ESPN.com favors the Knicks at 53%. Expect a slugfest where the Knicks pull away late courtesy of Captain Clutch and their superior rebounding edge. New York’s balanced attack exploits Milwaukee’s transition vulnerabilities, while the Bucks’ overreliance on Giannis should falter against Brown’s switching schemes. Knicks by six.