Following a disheartening 99-91 defeat at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Toronto Raptors find themselves in a pivotal position as they aim to regain their winning momentum on their home court.
Up next for the Raptors is a showdown with the Milwaukee Bucks who are fresh off a dominant 122-114 victory over Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat as 7.5-point favourites.
Bet on Bucks vs. Raptors
MIL -5.5
TOR +5.5
The Raptors are 5.5-point underdogs at bet365 in Wednesday’s showdown at Scotiabank Arena and the total is set at 223.5 points.
Bucks vs. Raptors odds
| Bucks Moneyline Odds | -210 |
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | +175 |
| Over/Under | 223.5 points (over -110, under -110) |
| Spread | Bucks -5.5 |
| Time/Date | Wednesday, Nov. 1, 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN 4 Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
All odds courtesy of 
About the Bucks (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS, 2-1 o/u)
The Bucks showcased their command Monday with a resounding statement victory over the Heat, the team that had eliminated them in the playoffs last year. Leading the charge, Giannis Antetokounmpo demonstrated his dominance by contributing 33 points and securing seven rebounds, while Damian Lillard provided essential support with 25 points of his own on an efficient 50% from the field.
Notably, Khris Middleton has yet to live up to the high expectations set for him this season. In his defence, he hasn’t had the opportunity to showcase his scoring prowess, as his highest shot attempts in a single game this season is just six.
As they aim to establish their dominance in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks will rely heavily on the scorching performances of Giannis and Dame.
About the Raptors (1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS, 1-3 o/u)
The Raptors are set to embark on a challenging back-to-back set, starting with a showdown against the new-look Bucks, followed by a trip to Philadelphia for the second half of the doubleheader on Thursday. After a dismal shooting performance where they managed only a 4-for-29 (14%) conversion rate from beyond the arc against Portland, the Raptors will be eager to bounce back and regain their offensive rhythm.
Despite the disappointing loss, one bright spot for the Raptors continues to be the emergence of Scottie Barnes. He displayed his two-way prowess against the Blazers by delivering an impressive stat line of 20 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Barnes showcased his ability to impact the game in various facets, and he was one of the few Raptors who managed to connect from downtown (1-for-4).
Pascal Siakam also contributed 20 points, Jakob Poeltl recorded a double-double, and Dennis Schroder facilitated the offence with eight assists. However, aside from these individual performances, the Raptors faced limited positives in their previous outing, and they will be seeking a collective effort to secure a more favourable result in the upcoming games.
Scottie Barnes over 0.5 blocks
-135
Injury concerns
- Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa is doubtful for Wednesday’s game due to a groin injury.
- Raptors centre Christian Koloko remains out with a respiratory condition.
- Bucks forward MarJon Beauchamp is dealing with an illness but is expected to suit up.
Betting trends
- The Bucks posted a 3-1 record against the Raptors last season. It’s worth noting that the Bucks’ lone loss in the season series came when none of their starters played.
- The over is 5-0 in Milwaukee’s past five games on the road.
- The over is 9-1 in Milwaukee’s past 10 games overall.
- The Raptors are 12-4 SU in their past 16 home games.
Player prop trends
- Giannis has a block in every single game this season, averaging approximately 1.67 blocks per game. His line is -160 to record over 0.5 blocks.
- Scottie has grabbed eight or more rebounds in every game this season, averaging 9.5 boards per game. His line is +115 to grab over 7.5 rebounds. Barnes also has at least one block in five straight games dating back to the play-in tournament last year. He’s -135 to post a rejection.
- Schroder has seven or more assists in every game this season, averaging around 8.8 assists per game. His line is -145 to record over 6.5 assists.
- Malik Beasley has quietly been a steals machine through three games, recording six thefts (two per game). He’s a steep -190 to record over 0.5 steals, but this could be a useful leg in a parlay.
Wagers to consider
- SGP: Giannis to score 20+ points; Scottie to score 15; Schroder to dish 7+ assists; Scottie to grab 7+ rebounds; Giannis to grab 7+ rebounds: +400. All of these props have hit in every game this season.
- Giannis to record a triple-double: +1550. Giannis has recorded a triple-double in the past two games he’s played against the Raptors and it’s very possible it could happen again.
- Lillard to score 25+ points: -160. He has hit this mark in two of the last three games this season and has also hit this in his last two games against the Raptors.
