Milwaukee (2-0) at Toronto (0-2)
When: Sunday, May 19th, 2019
Where: Scotiabank Arena,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 7:00 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Toronto -2.5/220.5
After a big comeback win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks left nothing for chance in Game 2, scoring the games first nine points and never looking back. The home team has won all four games so far in both conference finals and the Toronto Raptors hope that trend continues when they host Game 3 on Sunday night, or the series could be over. Either way, Toronto has to win both of these next two games – in my opinion – because the Bucks are playing like the best team in the league right now. Milwaukee once again received big time contributions from their bench, scoring 54 points – only 10 fewer than Toronto’s starters in significantly less playing time. The Raptors, after trailing by 28 points Friday, made a push to draw to within 13 in the third quarter. Raptors coach Nick Nurse is trying to draw some positives from that. “Well, yeah, I think, again, going back to some keys to our series, we’ve got to continue to work the offense for shots,” Nurse said. “And again, I sound like a broken record, but we had our share of wide-open shots that could have at least stymied a little bit of the breakout in the score. But we’ve got to make sure we continue to work for them.” Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the Bucks with 30 points and 17 rebounds on Friday, knows the next two games are going to be a challenge. “Game 3 is going to be way tougher than Game 1 and Game 2,” said Antetokounmpo. “We’re playing at their home now, but I think we’re going to be prepared. We’re going to make sure we go (Saturday), watch some clips, try to get better.” The Raptors are 5-2 at home this postseason and were 32-9 during the regular season, but at the same time, Milwaukee is a perfect 4-0 on the road in the playoffs. The Bucks won and covered the spread in both regular season matchups at Scotiabank Arena.
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Three players scored in double-figures off the bench for Milwaukee on Friday – Ersan Ilyasova (17 points), Malcolm Brogdon (14) and George Hill (13) – and combined to go 17-of-29 from the floor, with each of the three logging more than 20 minutes. Power forward Nikola Mirotic scored a 2019 postseason-high 15 points in Game 2, while center Brook Lopez came down to Earth after going off for 29 points in Game 1, settling for six points on 1-of-7 shooting Friday.
Once again, All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry showed his inconsistency during the postseason, scoring 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Game 1, but was just 4-of-13 Friday with half the points. Small forward Kawhi Leonard has scored 31 points in each of the first two games, but needs more help around him, especially the bench. Center Marc Gasol struggled to two points on 1-of-9 shooting in Game 2 and took full responsibility for the loss. “I played really bad, and that set the tone,” Gasol told reporters. “We’ve got another chance to bounce back on Sunday, and that’s all that matters right now.”
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Toronto should play better than they did in Game 2, but they are still overmatched in this series. Milwaukee took both games during the regular season in Toronto and are 10-1 ATS this postseason. Toronto, meanwhile, is 2-6 ATS over their last eight games. Look for the Bucks bench to be the key factor in this game again.
Pick: Bucks +2.5
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Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Bucks are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bucks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Bucks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Conference Finals games.
Bucks are 24-7-1 ATS in their last 32 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 road games.
Bucks are 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Bucks are 37-13-2 ATS in their last 52 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bucks are 27-11-2 ATS in their last 40 games following a ATS win.
Bucks are 41-18-2 ATS in their last 61 games overall.
Bucks are 36-16-1 ATS in their last 53 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bucks are 38-17-2 ATS in their last 57 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Sunday games.
Raptors are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Raptors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Raptors are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 1 days rest.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Central.
Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Conference Finals games.
Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 10-1 in Bucks last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 7-1 in Bucks last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 road games.
Over is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 11-4 in Bucks last 15 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 13-5 in Bucks last 18 Sunday games.
Over is 10-4 in Bucks last 14 games following a straight up win.
Over is 27-12 in Bucks last 39 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Under is 5-0-1 in Raptors last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Under is 7-1 in Raptors last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Raptors last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 11-4 in Raptors last 15 overall.
Under is 10-4 in Raptors last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 home games.
Under is 10-4 in Raptors last 14 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 vs. NBA Central.
Bucks are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Toronto.
Bucks are 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
Underdog is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.
