Two teams have been better than the rest in the Eastern Conference all season long, and they will face off in a titanic clash this week. The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA and they will hit the road to face off against the Toronto Raptors. Toronto is percentage points behind but the teams are tied in the standings for the top spot in the East.
Both of these teams consider themselves title contenders and wrapping up the top seed in the East would be huge in order to have the home court advantage in every round. Milwaukee has been the slightly better team this season but the Raptors could be the favorites in this one because they are the home team.
This has the potential to be a fantastic game in NBA odds.
This NBA basketball game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors will be held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 31st, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on TNT.
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Odds Analysis
The Bucks have a record of 35-13 on the season. They have the best point-differential in the NBA at plus-9.6 in addition to the top record. Milwaukee has been pretty solid on the road this season with 13 wins in 22 games. The Bucks are averaging 117.3 points per game, which is second in the NBA in scoring behind only the Golden State Warriors.
The Raptors are 37-15 on the year. They have been phenomenal at home this year with a 21-4 mark, which is why they should be favored in this matchup. Toronto is also one of the top-scoring teams in the NBA so this figures to be an entertaining showdown in NBA gambling.
Injury Report
Bucks point guard Malcolm Brogdon is putting together a career year. He is averaging 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season. He is dealing with a chest contusion but the injury seems minor. He is likely to play in this game but double check because his absence would be a blow to Milwaukee’s chances of winning this one.
Toronto center Jonas Valanciunas was practicing a little bit this week but remains sidelined with a thumb injury and is not going to play. He is averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest and the Raptors are hoping to get him back for the stretch run.
Matchup To Watch
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Kawhi Leonard -- These teams are where they are because of the play of their superstars. Antetokounmpo is in the MVP race as he has led the Bucks to soaring heights. He is averaging 26.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, which leads the team in each category.
He might be the most athletic player in the NBA and does a great job making plays on the defensive end of the court as well. Antetokounmpo is not a great outside shooter and the Raptors will aim to keep him outside of the paint.
Leonard isn’t as explosive but is just as talented. He is averaging 27.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Leonard plays fantastic one-on-one defense and has become an elite scorer on the offensive end of the court. If one of these two outplays the other, it will give his team a leg up.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Bucks are the slightly better team but the location is going to make all the difference in this showdown. The Raptors are the slight favorites and they should win this game. However, look for it to come down to the very end. The Bucks could very well be the right choice to cover the spread in NBA betting lines.
NBA ATS Pick: Toronto Raptors 115, Milwaukee Bucks 113
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