Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview

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— Wednesday, January 05th Toronto Raptors @ Milwaukee Bucks

The Toronto Raptors are firing on all cylinders right now, winning three straight games. Fred VanVleet has shown himself to be a leader of this team, along with Pascal Siakam.

But a tough test is on the horizon for the Raptors, though, as they head to Milwaukee to face the Bucks. The good news for the Raptors is that the Bucks lineup is depleted and they’re missing depth.

Milwaukee will have to find a way to overcome injuries and COVID-19 protocols. They’re coming off of a loss to the Detroit Pistons, partially because of these injuries. They still have one of the most electrifying players in the game, but Giannis Antetokounmpo can only do so much. He’ll need help from his fellow Bucks to take down the Raptors.

Toronto Raptors: Can VanVleet Have Another Blockbuster Night?

VanVleet has put up over 30 points in each of the last three games. The Raptors will need another output like that against the Bucks on Wednesday. His matchup will be against Jrue Holiday, one of the Bucks best defenders.

However, Holiday will likely get worn down through the game because of the lack of bench players. In total, Milwaukee is expected to have five players out.

That isn’t to say the Raptors aren’t dealing with their own share of injuries. Goran Dragic is out for personal reasons, but they could have four more players returning. The Raptors are the much healthier team here, but they’re also the team desperately trying to climb higher in the Eastern Conference. With all the injuries, it’ll be hard for the Bucks to hold them off.

Milwaukee Bucks: Injuries and Quarantines Plague the Bucks 

Having great players like Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton help, but they can only do so much. The Bucks will need to rest these players at some point, but their bench is depleted.

Giannis has never shied away from a challenge though, which is what this game is. It’ll be a true test of the Bucks No.4 offense to take down the Raptors. So, how could they go about winning this game?

The way we see it, the Raptors’ offense runs through VanVleet. Their recent success is due to VanVleet’s multiple +30-point games. If the Bucks can stop him, they’ll gain control of this game and swing it to their favor.

On offense, Middleton needs to produce high-quality shots from beyond the arc. This will stretch the Raptors defense and make it tough to double-team Giannis. 

Dunkel Index Pick for Raptors at Bucks

The Bucks are pretty heavy favorites in this game, currently -8. They don’t necessarily have a great record against the spread (18-21) either. Toronto has gone 8-1 ATS over their last nine games. However, they haven’t faced Giannis yet.

Even with Milwaukee’s injuries, we like their odds here. The Bucks have gone 5-2 ATS in their last seven games. This is all the while dealing with injuries and players in quarantine. We think the Bucks will put a stop to the Raptors magic and secure a big win at home. 

Dunkel Index Free Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -8, OVER
 

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