One of the marquee matchups of the NBA this week is Tuesday night as Milwaukee visits Toronto, with the Raptors having one major advantage between the Eastern Conference powers: more rest.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

There are four ways an NBA team can have a back-to-back games scenario: home-home, home-away, away-home, and away-away. By far the worst is the latter, and that’s the situation the Bucks are in here having played in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

Toronto most likely is not going to catch the Bucks for the top seed in the Eastern Conference but could perhaps send a bit of a message Tuesday for a potential Eastern Finals rematch. The Bucks had home-court advantage in that series, too, but it turned out not to matter.

This is only the second of four meetings this regular season – maybe if the Raptors win the remaining three games they have an outside shot at catching Milwaukee – with the teams playing a home-and-home set April 1 & 3.

On Nov. 2, the Bucks were 115-105 home winners over Toronto. Reigning NBA MVP and betting favourite to repeat Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks in a dominant effort. The Greek Freak admitted he “had a lot of motivation” from his team’s loss to the Raptors in the 2019 East Finals. No other Milwaukee player had more than 14 points. The Raptors trailed by as many as 26, and Kyle Lowry had a team-high 36 points.

These teams have split the past 10 meetings both straight up and ATS (including playoffs). The under has hit in the past three.

Milwaukee Bucks

On Sunday, Milwaukee became the first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff spot. In fact, it’s the earliest any team has clinched one in at least 15 years. The Bucks remain on pace to also become the third team in league history to reach 70 regular-season victories. Monday, Milwaukee narrowly avoided a loss in a trap game by winning 137-134 in overtime at Washington. Khris Middleton scored the Bucks’ final nine points and finished with a team-high 40. Antetokounmpo had 22 points and 14 rebounds but also eight turnovers and fouled out. Starting centre Brook Lopez sat with a sore back but it was more for rest; the Bucks are going to rest guys at times the rest of the regular season. Just probably not Tuesday. They have covered five straight in the second of a back-to-back.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto is 2-0 since the All-Star break, thumping both the visiting Suns and Pacers. It was 127-81 over Indiana on Sunday, the Raptors’ biggest margin of victory this season. Lowry had his career-high sixth straight double-double with 16 points and 11 assists. He’s averaging 19.3 points and 10.8 assists over that stretch. Serge Ibaka had 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Chris Boucher filled the stat sheet in his 17 minutes with nine points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Matt Thomas had a career-high 17 points, all in the fourth quarter. Nick Nurse, who earned his 100^th NBA win, emptied the bench with such a big lead. It was Toronto’s ninth win in a row at home – that ties the longest such streak of the year. The Dinos are averaging 125.1 points in that stretch at Scotiabank Arena and shooting nearly 52 per cent from the field. Toronto is 7-2 ATS in its past nine at home.

Who Will Win Bucks vs. Raptors?

Injuries

Milwaukee

Eric Bledsoe (PG)

Prob Wed Hamstring - 30 / 08 / 20

George Hill (PG)

Prob Mon Finger - 30 / 08 / 20

George Hill (PG)

Prob Mon Hamstring - 24 / 08 / 20

George Hill (PG)

Out Thurs Rest - 13 / 08 / 20

Ersan Ilyasova (PF)

Ques Sat Elbow - 12 / 08 / 20

Eric Bledsoe (PG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 11 / 08 / 20

Donte DiVincenzo (SG)

Prob Thurs Elbow - 11 / 08 / 20

Wesley Matthews (SG)

Prob Tues Groin - 11 / 08 / 20

Brook Lopez (C)

Out Tues Rest - 04 / 08 / 20

Wesley Matthews (SG)

Ques Thurs Calf - 03 / 08 / 20

Toronto

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 07 / 09 / 20

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 21 / 08 / 20

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 08 / 20

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Mon Knee - 10 / 08 / 20

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 08 / 20

Paul Watson (SG)

Doub Sun Back - 09 / 08 / 20

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Sun Eye - 08 / 08 / 20

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)

day-to-day Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20

Oshae Brissett (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 31 / 07 / 20

Injuries

Milwaukee

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Eric Bledsoe (PG)	Prob Wed	Hamstring - 30 / 08 / 20	1-3	2-3	+ -
Bledsoe has a strained right hamstring, but he is expected to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Heat.
George Hill (PG)	Prob Mon	Finger - 30 / 08 / 20	1-3	2-3	+ -
Hill is likely to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round despite a finger injury.
George Hill (PG)	Prob Mon	Hamstring - 24 / 08 / 20	3-3	4-3	+ -
Hill is managing a left hamstring injury but is likely to be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Magic.
George Hill (PG)	Out Thurs	Rest - 13 / 08 / 20	5-5	6-5	+ -
Hill will receive a day of rest and will not be available against the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF)	Ques Sat	Elbow - 12 / 08 / 20	5-6	6-6	+ -
Ilyasova is nursing a right elbow sprain, and it is uncertain if it will interfere with his status against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Eric Bledsoe (PG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 11 / 08 / 20	5-6	6-6	+ -
Bledsoe sat out the last game with a right knee soreness, but he is likely to be active for Thursday's battle with the Grizzlies.
Donte DiVincenzo (SG)	Prob Thurs	Elbow - 11 / 08 / 20	5-6	6-6	+ -
DiVincenzo missed the previous game due to a right elbow contusion, but it is anticipated that he will face the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Wesley Matthews (SG)	Prob Tues	Groin - 11 / 08 / 20	5-6	6-6	+ -
Matthews has a sore right adductor, but he is likely to take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Magic.
Brook Lopez (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 04 / 08 / 20	6-9	9-7	+ -
Lopez will receive a day of rest and will not suit up against the Nets on Tuesday.
Wesley Matthews (SG)	Ques Thurs	Calf - 03 / 08 / 20	7-9	10-7	+ -
Matthews missed the last game battling soreness in his right calf, and it is unknown if he will be in Thursday's lineup against the Heat.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 07 / 09 / 20	2-1	1-2	+ -
Ibaka is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to play against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 21 / 08 / 20	4-5	2-7	+ -
Hollis-Jefferson is bothered by swelling in his left knee, but he is likely to be active for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 08 / 20	6-6	5-7	+ -
VanVleet will receive a day of rest and will not be available against the Nuggets on Friday.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 12 / 08 / 20	7-6	5-8	+ -
Anunoby is dealing with with soreness in his right knee, but he is likely to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 10 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-9	+ -
Ibaka is bothered by a right knee contusion, but he is expected to play against the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 10 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-9	+ -
VanVleet missed the last game due to a hyperextended right knee, but he is likely to be available for Wednesday's contest against the 76ers.
Paul Watson (SG)	Doub Sun	Back - 09 / 08 / 20	8-7	5-10	+ -
Watson is dealing with soreness in his lower back, and he is not expected to be in the lineup Sunday against the Grizzlies.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Sun	Eye - 08 / 08 / 20	9-7	5-11	+ -
Ibaka was forced from the previous game due to an eye laceration, but he is likely to be active Sunday versus the Grizzlies.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)	day-to-day	Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20	11-7	5-13	+ -
Hollis-Jefferson exited Saturday's game with an ankle injury, and his return is in question.
Oshae Brissett (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 31 / 07 / 20	11-7	5-13	+ -
Brissett is expected to be sideline for an extended period due to right knee surgery in order to remove loose bodies.