Blake Krass details his best player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday’s matchup between the Bucks and the Knicks.
The Milwaukee Bucks are hosting the New York Knicks on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
The Knicks are 8.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 218.5 points.
Bucks vs. Knicks Best Prop Bets
Kevin Porter Jr. Over 26.5 Points + Assists (-114)
Kevin Porter Jr. has surged in productivity in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. He returned from his own injury at the beginning of February and has gotten back to his great form, including a season-high 32 points in Tuesday’s win over the Heat. Since Porter made his return on February 4th, he has led the Bucks in assists in eight out of nine games. In February, he is averaging 7.9 assists per game. Porter is very much running the offense in the absence of Antetokounmpo — and running it well. The Bucks are 7-2 since Porter came back from injury.
Not only is Porter distributing, but he is scoring as well. He has led the Bucks in scoring in back-to-back games. This month, he is averaging 21.9 points per game — his best month of the season. In total, Porter is averaging 29.8 combined points and assists per game over his past nine games. He has also been slightly better at home this season.
Porter missed the first two games against the Knicks this season and should take advantage of his one chance against New York by clearing this combination prop. He has eclipsed 26.5 points-plus-assists in seven of nine games since coming back from injury.
Jalen Brunson Leading Points Scorer (-106)
As great as Kevin Porter Jr. has been, Jalen Brunson is the elite scorer on the floor between these two teams. In the Game Leaders market on DraftKings Sportsbook, it is effectively Brunson versus the field to lead this game in scoring. Brunson has been one of the league’s elite scorers since becoming a Knick. Last season, he ranked eighth in the league in scoring. So far this season, he ranks 10th in the NBA with 26.7 points per game. Brunson has been fantastic in both matchups against the Bucks so far this season: he scored 36 in Milwaukee earlier this season before dropping 37 against the Bucks at the Garden.
The Bucks had no answers for Jalen Brunson in either matchup earlier this season. It will be even tougher for Milwaukee without Giannis Antetokounmpo. While Antetokounmpo wouldn’t be Brunson’s primary defender, his length and athleticism will be missed whenever he helps on Brunson in the paint.
Brunson is clearly New York’s most elite scorer, averaging 6.7 PPG more than Karl-Anthony Towns and 10.7 PPG more than OG Anunoby. Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks don’t have a truly elite scorer. Even if Porter or Ryan Rollins has a big game, it would take something truly special to rival the performances that Brunson regularly pieces together. The Knicks’ captain should make it three great performances against Milwaukee this season and lead the game in scoring.