Bucks vs. Raptors Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
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Andrew Rogers
That 7-0 start to the season must feel like a lifetime ago to the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the unenviable task of following up a loss to the defending NBA champions with a Sunday evening encounter with the league-leading Raptors in Toronto. The Bucks fell to 9-8 since their unbeaten start with Friday’s 105-95 setback to the visiting Warriors, and will now play seven of their next nine on the road – starting with a Raptors team they beat 124-107 back on Oct. 29.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Toronto should have a double dose of vengeance on its mind, seeking to atone for that 17-point setback in late October while also hoping to erase the memory of an ugly 106-105 overtime loss in Brooklyn on Friday night. Neither team comes into this one instilling much confidence, with the Bucks having gone just 1-6 ATS in their previous seven games and the Raptors having covered one of their past five. The underdog has covered in four straight meetings.
The total here is a sky-high 229.5 – and based on how both teams struggled to generate much offence last time out, you couldn’t blame over bettors for being a bit skittish. But while the Raptors’ under streak has reached four straight games, the Bucks are, by and large, a terrific over option, having gone 20-7 O/U in their previous 27 road games while exceeding the number in 16 of their past 21 games following a defeat.
Milwaukee Bucks
Having seen their offensive output wane in recent games compared to the blistering pace they set earlier in the season, the Bucks acquired some much needed backcourt help earlier this week with the acquisition of George Hill from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Finally escaping the purgatory of the rebuilding Cavaliers, Hill offers plenty of value as a catch-and-shoot 3-point specialist who can help the Bucks improve their 14th-place ranking from long range.
Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry is shooting an abysmal 21.6 percent from the floor over his previous four games, including a 5-for-27 performance from beyond the arc. Lowry has contributed double-digit assists in three of those four contests, but might defer to his teammates even more until he can get his wonky shot fixed.
