Milwaukee Bucks vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction, NBA Odds
There’s a decent chance that Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo does not play on Tuesday night as the Bucks will be in the second of a back-to-back as they visit Toronto. The Raptors are -4.5 on the NBA odds with a total of 237.5.
Bucks vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds
Milwaukee is such an interesting team this season because it has mortgaged the future so heavily to keep superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo from demanding a trade because the franchise isn’t competitive. There are many examples of the Bucks bending over backward to make Giannis happy, led by waiving Damian Lillard this past off-season and eating the $112 million still owed to him. But Lillard was going to miss this season injured and the Bucks felt they couldn’t waste a year of Giannis’ prime. So they used those savings to sign very solid Pacers centre Myles Turner in free agency.
Is Milwaukee a contender? Maybe it can win the Eastern Conference simply because it is so watered down, but the Bucks are still easily behind the Cavaliers, Knicks, Magic and 76ers at least. Milwaukee is +1300 for the conference title on the NBA Futures board.
Tuesday is the second of four regular-season meetings between the clubs and already the Bucks’ last trip to Toronto. On Oct. 24, the Raptors were -2.5 but lost to Milwaukee, 122-116. Antetokounmpo had 31 points and 20 rebounds, while point guard Cole Anthony scored nine of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. The game was tied after three. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 29 points.
Milwaukee has won four straight in the series overall and leads 62-47. At home, the Raptors have dropped three in a row and trail the series 31-23. Overall, the Bucks are 7-3 SU and 6-3-1 ATS in the past 10 meetings.
Milwaukee Bucks
In the modern-day NBA, some teams simply aren’t going to play their superstars in most back-to-backs. The Philadelphia 76ers already are on record as saying they won’t allow former MVP Joel Embiid to play both ends of one. The Bucks haven’t officially said they won’t play former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in both ends of one but this is their first of the year and he’s always listed on the injury report (as probable but missed one game) with a knee issue as it is. The Greek Freak did play Monday in Indianapolis and had the buzzer-beating 17-foot winner in a 117-115 victory, while finishing with 33 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
The Bucks are one of only three teams in the league this year to be averaging at least 120 points along with 50 per cent shooting from the field and 40 per cent from deep. That’s because Giannis is playing like an MVP. Because the Bucks played Monday, they don’t have to release a Tuesday injury report until after shootaround. Milwaukee is 6-2 ATS in its past eight.
Toronto Raptors
The Dinos have looked like a completely different team in back-to-back wins following a four-game skid. They took advantage of a very short-handed Memphis team on Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena, 117-104. RJ Barrett was terrific with 27 points on 10-for-19-shooting while adding six rebounds and six assists. Scottie Barnes had his second straight double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds and is the only player on the roster with a DD this season (three total).
The Dinos shot 50.6 per cent from the field to improve to 2-1 in the new campaign when hitting at least half their shots and dominated the boards despite playing a third game in a row without injured centre Jakob Poeltl. He’s questionable for Tuesday but did participate in practice Monday. Toronto outscored the Grizzlies by 14 in in fast-break points and is tied with Orlando for first in the NBA in total fast break points scored this season with 131. Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its past six at home, but we think it catches some player availability breaks here.