Eastern Conference rivals square off on Saturday evening at Fiserv Forum. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Toronto Raptors in a potential playoff preview, with the Bucks bringing a 27-17 record into the contest. Milwaukee is 14-7 at home and on normal rest, with Toronto (20-18) entering on the second night of a back-to-back after facing the Detroit Pistons on Friday. Jrue Holiday (ankle), Brook Lopez (back) and Langston Galloway (protocols) are out for the Bucks. Gary Trent Jr. (ankle) is day-to-day for Toronto.
Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET in Milwaukee. Caesars Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as the 7.5-point home favorite, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 221.5 in the latest Raptors vs. Bucks odds. Before making any Bucks vs. Raptors picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model entered Week 13 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 52-28 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bucks vs. Raptors, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Raptors vs. Bucks:
- Bucks vs. Raptors spread: Bucks -7.5
- Bucks vs. Raptors over-under: 221.5 points
- Bucks vs. Raptors money line: Bucks -340, Raptors +270
- TOR: The Raptors are 5-1 against the spread with no rest
- MIL: The Bucks are 8-13 against the spread in home games
Featured Game | Milwaukee Bucks vs. Toronto Raptors
Why the Raptors can cover
Toronto’s offense is potent this season, scoring more than 1.1 points per possession. The Raptors dominate in key areas, posting the second-highest offensive rebound rate in the NBA. Toronto is also No. 2 in second-chance points, and the Raptors are in the top five in ball security with fewer than 13 turnovers per contest. The Raptors are highly athletic and physical, posting a top-five mark in fast break points, and that also translates to defense.
Toronto is No. 3 in the NBA in fast-break points allowed with fewer than 11 per game. The Raptors are also in the top five in points in the paint allowed, with the No. 2 mark in creating turnovers. Toronto generates more than nine steals per game and, when the Raptors create a giveaway, they turn it into points at an elite level, averaging almost 20 points off turnovers per game. Milwaukee is below-average in both free-throw shooting and assists, leaving Toronto with avenues to succeed.
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee is tremendous on both ends of the floor. The Bucks are holding opponents to only 1.07 points per possession on defense, allowing 43.8 percent shooting from the field and 33.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. Milwaukee is No. 6 in the NBA in free- throw attempts allowed, giving up only 19.3 per game, and the Bucks are in the top 10 in defensive rebound rate at 73.7 percent.
Milwaukee uses physicality to prevent opponents from getting to the rim, allowing only 42.5 points in the paint per game, and the Bucks average 7.8 steals per contest. On offense, the Bucks are dynamic from long distance, making 36.2 percent of attempts and averaging 14.4 3-pointers per game, second-most in the NBA. Milwaukee is also above-average in creating free-throw attempts (21.1 per game), and the Bucks are in the top 10 in offensive rating, scoring 111.4 points per 100 possessions this season.
How to make Bucks vs. Raptors picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting 221 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Raptors vs. Bucks? And which side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.