The Milwaukee Bucks will lock horns with the New York Knicks in the first game of tonight’s In-Season Tournament quarterfinal doubleheader. The Knicks will be coming in hot, boasting three consecutive wins. Meanwhile, the Bucks have had a hard time staying consistent this season. But they’ll have home-court advantage, as they have gone 9-1 at home this season.

With a Las Vegas trip and a $500K per player prize pool in line, both teams will enter the contest with all guns blazing. As both teams gear up in search of a victory tonight, let’s take a look at their predicted lineups.

Predicted starting lineups for the Bucks vs. Knicks tonight

The Milwaukee Bucks dominated East Group B, winning all four games in the group play stage of the tourney. Meanwhile, the Knicks sit just below them in the East Group, managing three wins in four games. For the in-season quarterfinal clash, the Bucks are expected to start Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez. While the Bucks have a home-court advantage entering the contest, the downside is that they’ll be without some of their key contributors.

The Bucks will be without Jae Crowder, who incurred a left adductor and abdominal tear during Saturday’s loss to the Orlando Magic. He is expected to miss at least eight weeks to recuperate after surgery on Tuesday. Pat Connaughton has also made an appearance on the injury report, as he is dealing with a sprained right ankle. The Bucks will also miss the services of Andre Jackson Jr., who is questionable tonight due to lower back spasms.

For the Knicks side, the projected starting lineup might look like this: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks will be fielding a healthy core rotation and are monitoring just two players on the injury report. DaQuan Jeffries and Evan Fournier are both listed as day-to-day due to a non-COVID illness.

The Eastern Conference rivals go head-to-head

The shorthanded Bucks will have their work cut out tonight. The Knicks will be a formidable challenge, especially because of their superior defense this season. They rank among the top three in the NBA’s defensive efficiency, only allowing 1.09 points per possession. They also boast otherworldly defensive rebounding stats, securing 74.4% of available rebounds while conceding only 11.3 second-chance points per game. However, the Bucks have an upper hand on the offensive side, with the dynamic Dame-Giannis duo in tow.

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The Bucks boast impeccable shooting efficiency, successfully converting 49.5% of field goal attempts, 58.5% of mid-range attempts, and 37.3% of long-range attempts. Furthermore, they are also making more than 25 free throw attempts per game. With both teams having their own set of strengths, the matchup promises to keep the fans on the edge of their seats tonight. Who do you think will clinch the semifinal berth? Let us know in the comments!

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