Knicks vs. Bucks: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The 15-24 Milwaukee Bucks will host the 18-21 New York Knicks on Friday night in a battle between two teams that are vying for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. While the Knicks have a comfortable three-game lead right now, they have faltered as of late.

New York was in a tough spot about a month ago, but the emergence of point guard Jeremy Lin allowed the Knicks to go on a run and get back to .500. They have since lost three in a row, though, and will be without injured center Tyson Chandler. That means that struggling stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire will need to step up.

The Bucks haven't been playing very well either, and they have been dealing with injuries to prominent players such as center Andrew Bogut. When fully healthy, Milwaukee has a fairly solid, deep team, but that has been compromised.

Something has to give between two teams that have been floundering of late.

Here is everything you need to know for the clash between the Knicks and Bucks tonight. 

Where: Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisc.

When: Friday, March 9 at 8:30 p.m. EST

Watch: MSG (New York) and FSN-WI (Milwaukee)

Live Stream: NBA League Pass

Listen: WEPN 1050 AM (New York) and WTMJ 620 AM (Milwaukee)

Betting Line: New York (-1.5)

Knicks Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

Out: SG Bill Walker (elbow), PF Jared Jeffries (knee)

Doubtful: C Tyson Chandler (hamstring, wrist)

Bucks Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

Out: C Andrew Bogut (ankle)

Questionable: SF Stephen Jackson (hamstring), SF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (knee)

What They're Saying

With Knicks center Tyson Chandler likely to miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury, New York will have to figure out a way to buckle down defensively against the Bucks. Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni knows it won't be easy, but improved defense is a must, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

"Our defense was nonexistent (in San Antonio)," D'Antoni said. "It's a big hole defensively but we can't just throw our arms up and go, 'Too bad.' We've got to man up and get our energy back."

Most Important Player to Watch: Carmelo Anthony

Seeing as the Knicks have fallen on hard times, the novelty of "Linsanity" has worn off a bit. With that in mind, the focus has shifted to superstar forward Carmelo Anthony, who has had an extremely tough year. Not only has he missed some time with a myriad of injuries, but he also is averaging just 21 points per game on 40 percent shooting. On top of that, his play has been quite schizophrenic since his return from his latest injury.

The Knicks are suddenly a deep team thanks to the emergence of Lin and signing of J.R. Smith, so it's understandable why it is taking some time for Carmelo to get comfortable within the offense. At the same time, though, Anthony is a player who has always demanded the ball in order to be successful, and he'll need to figure out his role in the offense against the Bucks.

Key Matchup: Jeremy Lin vs. Brandon Jennings

The Knicks' most talked-about player and the Bucks' best overall player will do battle on Friday night, as point guards Jeremy Lin and Brandon Jennings will look to one-up each other. Although Lin has slowed down a bit of late, he continues to put up good numbers in terms of points and assists, and he continues to develop into more of a playmaker rather than the pure scorer he appeared to be when he first received extended minutes.

Jennings has had a very solid year after struggling a bit last season. He is averaging close to 19 points per game, as well as 5.5 assists. He still needs to improve his shot selection, as he is shooting just 40 percent from the field, but that will come as he matures. Jennings has the potential to go off on any given night, and Lin will have to be wary of that.

Prediction

Knicks 97, Bucks 92