The Boston Celtics aren’t the only high seed in danger of losing their first round series. The Toronto Raptors have looked like the inferior team in their first round matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, and will need to win the crucial Game 4 in order to tie this series up.
After dropping Game 2 on the road,, the Milwaukee Bucks improved to 2-1 over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, winning the first game at BMO Harris Bradley Center by 27 points. The Bucks will be coming into Game 4 this weekend with a lot of confidence after the blowout.
The Raptors, on the other hand, are scrambling to regain control. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago but now are on the precipice of a big-time series deficit if they can’t figure out a way to pull out this game in Milwaukee.
This war on the floor will go down Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 3 p.m. ET at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The game will be televised live on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Saturday schedule.
NBA Odds
Based on the way the first three games have gone, the Bucks may be slight favorites in this matchup despite finishing with nine fewer wins in the regular season. The scoring total was 197 last time out and the “under” was the correct choice.
Milwaukee is 44-41 straight up and 39-46 against the spread on the season. The Bucks have covered in 20 of their 42 home games on the season. Milwaukee is 17-23 against the spread as the favorite on the season.
Toronto is is 52-33 straight up and 44-39-2 against the spread. Toronto is 23-18-1 against the spread on the road this season and 11-9-1 against the spread as the underdog.
Last Time Out
Behind Khris Middleton’s 20 points and seven assists, the Bucks captured a 104-77 win over the Raptors on Thursday. Toronto came out hot from the gate and never let off the gas in the win, leading by 27 at the start of the second half and maintaining the large lead throughout the final two quarters.
The Bucks shot 52.7 percent from the field in Game 3, including going 12-for-23 from behind the three-point-line. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 19 points in the win and Greg Monroe finished with 16 points.
The Raptors leading scorer, DeMar DeRozan didn’t have a single basket on Thursday. DeRozan is averaging 27.3 points per game this season, but was held to just eight points from the free-throw line and Kyle Lowry had 13 points.
Key Stat
4.2. That was the Raptors’ positive point differential on the season, which was the best in the East. That’s why many believed Toronto could make some noise in the postseason, however the Bucks have been the better team thus far in this series.
Milwaukee finished only two game over .500 during the regular season and had a negative point differential but the team’s young talent has gelled in the postseason, giving the Raptors trouble.
Antetokounmpo has been leading the way in this series so far for the Bucks with help from Middleton and Monroe. Milwaukee is looking for its first playoff series win since 2001.
Free NBA ATS Pick
Milwaukee has been the better team through the first three games and it may be able to keep that up. However, Lowry and DeRozan should be able to snap out of it and put together a better showing in Game 4.
Toronto knows what is on the line in this game and should be able to put together a good effort. While the Bucks are an improving team, Toronto has been better for the past couple of years and will be able to show it in this one.
This series is going to get tight as the Raptors pick up the critical Game 4 victory on the road.
NBA Odds: Raptors 105, Bucks 100
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