Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, NBA Odds
Toronto and Milwaukee have been basement dwellers early in the season. The Raptors have lost four straight games, capped by a 123-103 blowout loss against the Lakers on Sunday, and now sit dead last in the NBA. The Bucks are also coming off a loss on Sunday, falling 113-107 against Boston, and they now sit second-last in the NBA.
Milwaukee is an 8.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with the total set at 226.5.
Raptors vs. Bucks NBA Betting Odds
The second annual NBA Cup begins Tuesday. In short, the NBA is basically ripping off European soccer with their own attempt at an in-season tournament. The Lakers, who won the inaugural tournament last year much to the relief of the NBA, were ridiculed for raising an in-season tournament champions banner despite the franchise’s well-known standard of only hanging NBA championship banners, not division or conference championship banners. Winning or losing the tournament doesn’t impact the standings any more than a normal game does, so the tournament is essentially pointless, end of rant.
Back to the Raptors and Bucks. Toronto took two of three games last year, winning at home and on the road. Both teams have struggled heavily this season, with the Dinos sitting at 2-9 and Milwaukee sitting at 2-8.
Believe it or not, Toronto is actually a solid cover option at 8-3 against the spread. The same can’t be said for the Bucks, who have failed to cover in seven of 10 games. It’s also worth noting that the Raptors are 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight road games against Milwaukee.
That’s where the positives end for Toronto. The Raptors have lost all six road games this season and they are 1-10 straight up on the road dating to last season. On the flip side, the Bucks have won 11 of their last 16 games against Atlantic Division opponents and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
Toronto Raptors
Do yourself a favour and Google ‘RJ Barrett Game of Thrones’ because that’s the only joy you’ll get out of Toronto’s loss to the Lakers on Sunday. Barrett and Chris Boucher each put up 18 points, while Ochai Agbaji had 16. Immanuel Quickley finished with 12 points, playing back-to-back games in Los Angeles after missing the previous eight with a pelvic bruise. Scottie Barnes, however, remains out with an orbital injury.
Believe it or not, The Raptors are actually a decent offensive team. They average 115.3 points per game, 11th in the NBA, and their field goal percentage of 46.8 ranks 14th . It’s defending that’s killing this team. Toronto allows the most points per game in the NBA (122.7) and they rank in the bottom-10 of almost every major defensive statistic.
Milwaukee Bucks
You can’t blame Giannis Antetokounmpo for Milwaukee’s tough start to the season. Antetokounmpo, who is averaging an NBA-best 31.6 ppg, went off for a game-high 43 points and 13 rebounds in Sunday’s loss to the Celtics. The Greek Freak also ranks fourth in the NBA in rebounds per game (12.8) and he’s hit the 30-point mark in six of nine games this season. Damian Lillard, however, is on a cold spell. Lillard, who is second on the Bucks with 26.0 ppg, went 1-for-8 from three-point range on Sunday and he’s just 1-for-12 from beyond the arc over the last two games.
Lillard won’t get a chance to right the ship on Tuesday as he’s been ruled out because of concussion protocol. Milwaukee is dealing with multiple injury issues, including All-Star forward Khris Middleton, who still hasn’t made his season debut after undergoing off-season surgery on both of his ankles. Andre Jackson Jr. (left hip pointer) and former Raptor Gary Trent Jr. (lower back spasms) are listed as probable on Tuesday.
TOR
MIL