The Toronto Raptors clawed one back on Tuesday night to even the series with the Milwaukee Bucks. After some struggles in Game 1, their great backcourt of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry stepped it up in Game 2. DeRozan and Lowry both hit 50 percent from the floor and ended their nights with over 20 points to lead the way for Canada’s team in the win. They will now put their talents to the test in a pivotal Game 3 in Milwaukee.
At 8 p.m. EDT tune into NBATV and Fox Sports Wisconsin for live television coverage of this NBA playoff basketball game on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at BMO Harris Bradley Center. We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA playoff schedule.
Odds Analysis
Milwaukee may have dropped Game 2, but now has home court advantage in the series by grabbing a game in Toronto. The Bucks weren’t a great home team this season with a record of 23-18 SU and 19-22 ATS, yet bettors must be feeling good about the team’s chances after covering the first two in the series.
Toronto was 23-18 SU as well on the road during the regular season and a marginal 21-19-1 ATS in the away role. The Raptors covered and won their last three in the regular season away from home.
Matchup to Watch
With the acquisition of Serge Ibaka, few teams in the East have the size that the Raptors do. Toronto can bring out big men like Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas, and Patrick Patterson to bang bodies against opponents and complement DeRozan and Lowry on the perimeter.
Due to the size, Toronto was supposed to have an advantage on the glass, but that hasn’t transpired through two games. The Raptors outrebounded the Bucks by four in Game 1, but the totals were dead even in Game 2 and that helped the Bucks stick around despite a subpar shooting night.
Additionally, there have been some real problems with allowing offensive boards for Toronto. The Bucks have outrebounded the Raptors on the offensive glass in both games in this series and that has led to them putting up 10 more shots than the Raptors in each game. Toronto has to keep Milwaukee off the offensive glass here.
Player to Watch
Giannis Antetokuonmpo continues to light up the highlight reels as he develops in front of our eyes. He may have more physical gifts than anyone in the league not named LeBron James and is using them to terrorize Toronto.
Although he went 9 of 24 from the floor, he was able to contribute in a myriad of other ways in Game 2. The Greek Freak snagged 6 offensive rebounds, 15 total, and notched 7 assists as well. Next year it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him do what Russell Westbrook did this season, as a triple-double threat every night. Toronto knows to stop Milwaukee, Antetokuonmpo must be held in check.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Raptors were decent sized favorites to win this series before it kicked off and some were even calling them to knock off the Cavaliers in the East after their strong performance to end the regular season. They are getting all they can handle from the Bucks though and can’t afford more bad performances from DeRozan or Lowry if they want to advance.
Toronto will likely be a very short favorite in Game 3 and split the regular season series 1-1 with the Bucks in Milwaukee. However, we’re going to call for the Bucks to win Game 3. Giannis has upped his game at home and will be playing in front of a crowd starving for a playoff victory, while Toronto looks like it still has some things to figure out in order to win.
NBA Odds: Bucks 98, Raptors 95
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