The Toronto Raptors (42-15) host the Milwaukee Bucks (49-8) Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena in one of the marquee matchups of the NBA season to date. The Bucks have secured their playoff berth and are seven games ahead of the Raptors atop the Eastern Conference. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Bucks-Raptors sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Bucks at Raptors: Key Injuries
Bucks
- C Brook Lopez (back) questionable
- SG Kyle Korver (back) out
Raptors
- C Marc Gasol (hamstring) out
- PF Dewan Hernandez (ankle) out
- SG Patrick McCaw (illness) questionable
- SG Norman Powell (finger) out
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Bucks at Raptors: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:20 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Raptors 109, Bucks 106
Moneyline (ML)
The RAPTORS (+100) have both the rest and home advantages Tuesday, while the Bucks (-121) are being considered moderate favorites as the higher-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee was the first team in the NBA to secure a playoff berth, and they won a third straight game Monday night, as they beat the Washington Wizards 137-134 in overtime on the road.
The Raptors have won two straight games coming out of the All-Star break, and they have just one loss in their last 18 games. The Bucks lead the season series 1-0 after securing a 115-105 win at Fiserv Forum Nov. 2, but we’re backing the Raps at even-money as the two sides play the first of three remaining head-to-head games in the regular season. The two seem destined to meet once again in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The moneyline is the more profitable play for the hosts, but we’ll also back the RAPTORS (+1.5, -110) with a little bit of insurance in the event of a loss. A $11 bet on the Raps to lose by no more than 1 point returns a profit of $10.
Toronto is 33-24 against the spread overall and 19-11 on home court. Milwaukee is 33-24 ATS overall and 16-11 on the road.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 231.5 (-115). The total seems to be inflated by the prestige of the head-to-head matchup, as viewers will want to see a high-scoring game as the preview of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The first meeting of the season fell well short of this projection with a total of just 220 points scored. The Bucks are also just 3-4 against the Over/Under when playing on the second half of a back-to-back.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 196-169
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