Toronto (2-2) at Milwaukee (2-2)
When: Thursday, May 23rd, 2019
Where: Fiserv Forum,
Milwaukee, WI
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Milwaukee -6.5/219
While the Golden State Warriors rest at home, the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks are now engaged in a best-of-three series to see who represents the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals that begins on May 30th. The Bucks had two chances to put the Raptors in elimination-mode, but Toronto turned up the energy to hold serve on their home court to even the best-of-seven series at two apiece. The Bucks, who have not lost three games in a row all season, played one of their worst games on Tuesday, dropping a 120-102 decision. The Bucks started the game aggressively, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored the first five points of the game and helped give his team a 12-5 lead. But Toronto took over from there and led 32-31 after one quarter and dominated the rest of the way. With Kawhi Leonard favoring his left leg after playing 52 minutes in Sunday’s double-overtime win by Toronto, others stepped up including Kyle Lowry, who scored 25 points – his second-highest output of the series. Leonard logged 34 minutes on Tuesday and recorded 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals, but was quick to credit the rest of his team. “Everybody contributed (Tuesday), knocking down shots, playing great defense. (Serge Ibaka was) making plays, getting rebounds, blocking shots and making shots on the other end. You know, when he does things like that everybody just gets energy and just the whole team flows at that point.”
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Ibaka played great defense but also contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds for his best game of the series. Fred VanVleet, who was 7-of-44 from the floor in his previous 10 games, was 5-of-6 Tuesday while scoring 13 points. Norman Powell contributed 18 points and is averaging 17 over the last three games. The Raptors shot only 34.1 percent from 3-point land but managed to make 24-of-27 free throws and turned the ball over just 11 times, while holding Milwaukee to 11-of-35 from beyond the arc.
Guards Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton were awful in Game 3 with each going 3-of-16 from the field, but only Middleton showed up in Game 4. Bledsoe is averaging 8.3 points in the series while making just 11-of-45 shots. Middleton scored a team-high 30 points Tuesday on 11-of-15 shooting while Bledsoe was just 2-of-7. Antetokounmpo ended the game with 25 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4 for his fourth straight double-double.
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This could very well come down to seven games with the home team winning each one. The Bucks have been a great bounce-back team all season and coming home will give them some energy. Leonard is still hobbling around but will have enough help around him to keep this one closer than seven points.
Pick: Raptors +7
Raptors are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games playing on 1 days rest.
Raptors are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games.
Raptors are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Central.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Raptors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Bucks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
Bucks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Bucks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Bucks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Bucks are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
Bucks are 21-5 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss.
Bucks are 18-6 ATS in their last 24 games following a ATS loss.
Bucks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bucks are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Bucks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 20-7-1 ATS in their last 28 games playing on 1 days rest.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bucks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 37-15-2 ATS in their last 54 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bucks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Bucks are 41-20-2 ATS in their last 63 games overall.
Over is 5-0 in Raptors last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 6-1 in Raptors last 7 Thursday games.
Over is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 vs. NBA Central.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 Conference Finals games.
Under is 7-2-1 in Raptors last 10 road games.
Under is 7-2-1 in Raptors last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 8-3 in Raptors last 11 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 overall.
Over is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 5-2-1 in Raptors last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 7-3 in Raptors last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-1 in Bucks last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 6-1 in Bucks last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 Conference Finals games.
Over is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 8-3 in Bucks last 11 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Bucks last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 20-8 in Bucks last 28 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 29-12 in Bucks last 41 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Over is 14-6 in Bucks last 20 overall.
Under is 13-6 in Bucks last 19 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 13-6 in Bucks last 19 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 13-6 in Bucks last 19 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 15-7 in Bucks last 22 Thursday games.
Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee.
Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
Underdog is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
