NBA: Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview

The top 2 Eastern Conference foes meet up tonight for the 4th time this season as Toronto Raptors host the Milwaukee Bucks in Toronto!

Toronto Raptors

Toronto are currently the 2nd seed in the East at 37-15. Despite having an injury riddled stretch a few weeks ago, it seems now that Toronto are back on track with Kawhi and Lowry both back playing and despite Lowry’s recent struggles, the Raptors have returned to more consistent winning ways the past couple of weeks. Toronto have been particularly strong at home having won 10 straight games at Home and doing so in a dominant fashion for the most part of their games. Raptors have been solid against East’s elite at Home with a 5-1 record against the top 5 seeds, that only loss did come to the Bucks though. Jonas Valanciunas is the only absent player for Toronto tonight as he’s been out for over a month with a thumb injury. Everyone else are clear to play tonight so the Raptors are pretty much at full strength.

Injury Report:

Jonas Valanciunas – OUT

Milwaukee Bucks

Bucks have probably been the hottest team over the past 20 games winning 16 of those and moving all the way to the top of the Eastern Conference currently with a 36-13 record. With Giannis playing like an MVP and the supporting cast playing legitimately solid basketball, this team have certified themselves as one of the NBA’s best teams and with a win tonight they could seriously make a huge statement. Bucks have already won road games in Golden State, Denver, Toronto, Houston and Boston this season so they know what it takes to win these huge road games this season. Bucks lead the season series over Toronto 2-1 so far so taking the tie breaker could prove to be crucial for Milwaukee in the fight for the 1st seed. Injury report wise Malcolm Brogdon and Sterling Brown participated in the shootaround and are expected to play while rookie Donte DiVincenzo is out.

Injury Report:

Malcolm Brogdon – Probable to play

Sterling Brown – Probable to play

Donte DiVincenzo – OUT

Betting Stats

Totals

Raptors have a 52% of total point overs covered at Home this season (13-12) which is around the middle of the NBA. The total tonight is 232 pts and that is Toronto’s highest point total given pre-game all season long at Home. The closest to 232 that they’ve had was 230 pts against New Orleans which resulted in an Over as Toronto lost 126-110 and also 230 pts against tonight’s opponents Bucks which was an under with the game ending 99-104 in Milwaukee’s favour.

Milwaukee are also around the middle in the NBA at total point overs covered on the Road this season but they are at a negative 47.82% (11-12). The closest that they’ve had a pre-game total on the road was 233 points against the Clippers which resulted in an Over as Milwaukee lost 128-126.

Handicaps

Raptors are again around the middle in the NBA in Handicaps covering 52% of their Handicaps at Home this season (13-12). Raptors are 2.5 point favourites and the closest they’ve been to that was when they were 3.5 point favourites at Boston at Home covering it and winning the game 113-101. Toronto were also 1.5 point favourites against Utah which they covered winning the game 122-116.

Milwaukee are in the top 10 at covering Handicaps on the Road at a 52.17% (12-11). The Bucks have been 2.5 point underdogs already before this season against Boston failing to cover that losing the game 117-113. They were also 2 point underdogs against OKC Thunder also failing to cover losing the game 118-112. Bucks are 3-2 at covering Handicaps as underdogs this season.

Recent H2H in Toronto

In the past 2 seasons we’ve seen some very close games in Toronto with the Bucks winning 2 of last 3 in Toronto against the Raptors. All 3 games were decided by 5 or less points and we’ve seen 2 overtimes so these games tend to be very entertaining.

Most recently, the Bucks defeated the Raptors in Toronto 104-99 earlier this season in December and in that game the Bucks covered a +5 Handicap and the total 230 points resulted in an under as teams just scored a combined 203 points.

Match Start – 1st February 2019 – 1am UK Time