NBA Betting – Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors

• The Raptors are a rare -1.5 underdog at home versus the Milwaukee Bucks

• Bucks haven’t lost consecutive games this season and it’s happened only once since the start of the 2018-19 season

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They were the top two teams in the Eastern Conference last season and they are back at it this season. The Milwaukee Bucks have built a comfortable lead by winning 49 of their 57 games, but they haven’t been able to shake the Toronto Raptors, who are the hottest team in the NBA with wins in 17 of their last 18 games. The teams are meeting in Toronto for the first time since Game 6 of the East Final when the Raps ousted the No. 1 seed by winning four straight games to take the series. The Bucks got a small measure of revenge by winning the first meeting, 115-105, back in early November.

Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors

Date and Time: Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 7:30 p.m. ET

Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

Opening NBA Odds: Milwaukee -1.5, O/U 231

Bucks at Raptors TV Coverage: TNT

Odds Analysis

Talk about a heavyweight clash this is it. The teams have ruled the East since the start of last season and have built a nice little rivalry having met twice in the last three postseasons, including that epic battle in the 2019 East Final. At 49-8 the Bucks are on pace to become the third team in league history to record 70 wins. They’d rather win 16 playoff games. You have to win on the road to post a lofty record and the Bucks have done that. They are 8-1 in their last nine road encounters and 23-5 SU and 16-12 ATS overall. The Raptors might be the hottest team in the league with the Bucks close behind. Toronto has won 17 of its last 18 games but is playing as a home underdog for just the third time this season. They are 2-1 SU and ATS in those tilts.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks keep rolling and they have a bone to pick with Toronto. They haven’t lost consecutive games this season and it’s happened only once since the start of the 2018-19 season. So when the Raptors won four straight to clinch their playoff series, it was alarming. The Bucks can lose the rest of their games and still play for the O’Brien Trophy since they already clinched a postseason berth. Don’t expect that to change how the team performs.

With reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the NBA’s most efficient offense, the Bucks simply torment opponents. Giannis leads the team and ranks third in the NBA with 29.9 points per game. He’s also the fourth-best rebounder with 13.6 boards. To average 120 points an outing others need to perform and the Bucks aren’t a one-man show.

With Antetokounmpo saddled by foul trouble in Monday’s overtime win at Washington, Khris Middleton stepped up and dropped 40 on the Wiz, including Milwaukee’s final nine points in the 137-134 triumph. Eric Bledsoe added 23 points and 10 assists with the Freak going for 22 points before fouling out. That’s probably a good thing with the second of a back-to-back coming up. Giannis played only 25 minutes so he should be ready to play.

Toronto Raptors

Don’t tell these Raptors they can’t win without Kawhi Leonard. Buoyed by a club record 15-game winning streak and winners in 17 of their last 18 games, the Raptors have a better record through 57 games this year than they did during their championship season. It’s only a one-game difference, but you get the idea. They are a good basketball team.

Dealing with injuries that sidelined a number of players from late-December to early January, the Raptors became a better team for it. The bench is stronger and we’ve seen guys like Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby pick up the slack for the loss of Leonard. Six players average double figure scoring led by Siakam’s 23.7. The backcourt of VanVleet and Kyle Lowry is one of the most underrated in the league, though they are doing plenty to change that. Combined they average 37 points and 15 assists.

Toronto got greased up for this showdown by abusing Indiana 127-81 on Sunday in what became the biggest win in team history. And the Raps certainly have the scheduling advantage for this one. They play at home wrapping up a three-game homestand with a day off in between games. Meanwhile, the Bucks are coming off an overtime game in Washington the night before and have to travel to another country for a game 24 hours later. Can the Raps take advantage?

Bet Bucks at Raptors at BookMaker.eu

Both teams are scorching hot coming in so something’s gotta give. A lot of the signs point to the Raps emerging victorious. They are home, rested, and the Bucks come in for the second of a back-to-back. Sometimes the signs are wrong, but they aren’t on this night. Toronto has the horses to keep up offensively and they’ll win a close one.

NBA Score Prediction: Toronto 117, Milwaukee 113

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- Phil Simon, Gambling911.com