Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks Prediction, NBA Odds
The Toronto Raptors look to sweep a quick two-game trip on Thursday night when they visit a Milwaukee team that is still without injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Thus, the Bucks are 4.5-point underdogs on the NBA odds with a total of 219.5.
Raptors vs. Bucks NBA Betting Odds
Toronto catches an obviously major break tonight in that the Bucks are without the incomparable Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a strained right calf. He might not be back until the New Year, and there are rumours flying that he finally does want out of Milwaukee with the team now miles and miles from title contention.
While Giannis reportedly prefers to play for the New York Knicks, could the Raptors get involved in trade talks? Any deal likely would have to be built around RJ Barrett, some of the team’s recent first-round selections and also future first-round draft picks to the Bucks. The Knicks don’t have a ton of assets like that, and Milwaukee will simply take the best deal if it decides to make a move. Hey, the Raptors took a flier on Kawhi Leonard and that sure worked out even though it was only a rental.
This is the third of four regular-season meetings, and they split two-high scoring meetings at Scotiabank Arena early in the season. Giannis played in both and averaged 26.5 points, 14.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, which is pretty typical for him. Former Raptor Gary Trent averaged 13.0 PPG in the two. Barrett leads the Raptors in averaging 21.5 PPG in the series, with Brandon Ingram at 21.0 and Scottie Barnes (a guy the Bucks would surely demand in any deal) at 20.0.
Milwaukee is 6-4 in the past 10 meetings overall (4-5-1 ATS) and the over-under is 6-4.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors had lost four straight entering Tuesday’s game at Miami and were 5-point underdogs but upset a good Heat team, 106-96. Toronto outscored Miami by 13 in the fourth as clearly having had nearly a week in between games gave the Dinos some fresh legs late.
The defence held the high-scoring Heat to 26 points below their season average. When the Raptors hold a team under 110 points, they are 10-0.
Brandon Ingram led the way with 28 points, while no one else had 17. Ingram has made three-or-more 3-pointers in a season-high three consecutive games. Jamal Shead was terrific off the bench with eight points, 10 assists and a team-best plus-27 rating in just 23 minutes. Shead leads all NBA second-year players in total assists.
Immanuel Quickley was back after a one-game absence due to illness and had 15 points and four assists. Toronto had 33 assists to Miami’s 20 to improve to 14-7 this year when having more helpers than the foe. The Raptors are 1-8 ATS in their past nine.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks obviously are not close to the same without Giannis Antetokounmpo, and that was quite encapsulated in the team’s last game Sunday when it was clobbered, 127-82, at Brooklyn, arguably the NBA’s worst team. It tied the franchise record for margin of victory. And the Nets’ head coach wasn’t even there due to illness.
Former Raptor Gary Trent Jr. led the way with 20 points in the loss. Starting guard AJ Green missed a third straight game with a shoulder injury but was a limited participant in practice this week. He averages 11.3 PPG.
One bright spot this year has been a breakout campaign by 23-year-old guard Ryan Rollins. He’s averaging career bests in points (17.0), assists (6.0), rebounds (4.0), steals (1.6; 10th in NBA) and minutes (31.7) per game while shooting 47.3 per cent from the field.
One thing Giannis does not do well is shoot from deep, but the Bucks lead the NBA in 3-point shooting at 40.4 per cent, which would be a franchise record. Green (48.5) and usual Sixth Man Bobby Portis (47.6) are among the leaders in per centage. Milwaukee is 6-12 ATS in its past 18.
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