Milwaukee (2-1) at Toronto (1-2)
When: Tuesday, May 21st, 2019
Where: Scotiabank Arena,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -2/220
The Milwaukee Bucks know they didn’t play nearly their best game on Sunday, but yet still almost put the Eastern Conference finals away in a double-overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors. Milwaukee looks to take a commanding 3-1 series lead before going back home when the teams play Game 4 on Tuesday night. The Raptors did a great job of containing superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, double-teaming him a lot and holding him to 12 points before fouling out in the second overtime with 4:24 remaining. Antetokounmpo did manage to record 23 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks, but also turned the ball over eight times. Milwaukee’s inability to make 3-pointers when Antetokounmpo kicked it out, needs to improve. Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe each shot 3-for-16 from the field and 1-of-6 from beyond the arc and Buck’s coach Mike Budenholzer knows that needs to improve. “He’s making the right read,” Budenholzer said of Antetokounmpo. “He’s making the pass. And we’ve probably got to shoot it a little bit better. We’ve got to drive it a little bit better. Maybe we can create more space for him. We’ll look at all those things.” The Bucks shot 37.3 percent from the field as a team, while the Raptors shot slightly better at 39.2 percent. Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard had eight points in the second overtime on 3-for-3 shooting from the field and making both free throws, but head coach Nick Nurse was more impressed with his play at the other end of the floor. “His defense was probably the biggest key of the game,” Nurse said. “He made some huge plays with some steals and ripaways and breakaways.” Game 5 is set for Thursday back in Milwaukee.
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Veteran point guard George Hill continued his solid postseason play with 24 points of 7-of-9 shooting and has eclipsed double digits in six of the past seven games. Malcolm Brogdon had 20 points, Brook Lopez added 16, Bledsoe 11, and Nikola Mirotic 10. The Bucks missed 10 free throws – five by Antetokounmpo – and were just 14-of-44 from beyond the arc.
Leonard scored 36 points while playing a career-high 52 minutes and limped through the two overtimes after logging so many minutes. “It was a lot of minutes, but I think he’s OK,” Nurse said. Toronto is seeking to reach the NBA Finals for their first time ever but need to hold homecourt in order to have a chance. The Raptors still need more from guard Kyle Lowry, who had just 11 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Norman Powell had 19 points off the bench before he fouled out late in the fourth. Pascal Siakam (25 points, 11 rebounds) and Marc Gasol (16 points, 12 rebounds, five blocked shots) were solid Sunday, but backup guard Fred VanVleet was 1-of-11 shooting in Game 3 and is just 7-of-44 over the last 10 games.
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Milwaukee is going to find their outside shot soon, and if they do, it spells trouble for Toronto. Bledsoe and or Middleton will show up tonight and open things up a bit more inside for Antetokounmpo. Bucks prevail in Game 4.
Pick: Bucks -2.5
Bucks are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 Tuesday games.
Bucks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bucks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Bucks are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 21-5 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Bucks are 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 road games.
Bucks are 24-9 ATS in their last 33 games following a ATS loss.
Bucks are 37-14-2 ATS in their last 53 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bucks are 41-19-2 ATS in their last 62 games overall.
Bucks are 36-17-1 ATS in their last 54 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bucks are 38-18-2 ATS in their last 58 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Tuesday games.
Raptors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Raptors are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Raptors are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games playing on 1 days rest.
Raptors are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 vs. NBA Central.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Conference Finals games.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 8-1 in Bucks last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 7-1 in Bucks last 8 road games.
Over is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 13-3 in Bucks last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 4-1 in Bucks last 5 Conference Finals games.
Over is 12-4 in Bucks last 16 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 13-5 in Bucks last 18 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 28-12 in Bucks last 40 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Over is 7-3 in Bucks last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 13-6 in Bucks last 19 overall.
Over is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 8-2 in Raptors last 10 Tuesday games.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-2 in Raptors last 9 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Raptors last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 6-2 in Raptors last 8 vs. NBA Central.
Under is 8-3-1 in Raptors last 12 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-3 in Raptors last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 11-5 in Raptors last 16 overall.
Bucks are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Toronto.
Bucks are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Toronto.
Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Underdog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
