The Raptors have a chance to tie their Eastern Conference Finals series at two games apiece with the Milwaukee Bucks. Toronto was able to pull out a huge double-OT victory at home on Sunday, giving the Raptors life ahead of Game 4.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors stay hot at home against the Bucks, getting on the board with a win in this series. Kawhi Leonard had his third 30+ game of the series, and his fourth straight overall. Leonard has led the Raptors in scoring in 13 of the 15 playoff games played by Toronto so far, highlighting the importance of the small forward. Leonard is simply one of the best all-around basketball players in the league, and he is (almost) single-handedly carrying the Raptors to the Finals. Averaging 32.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game against the Bucks so far in this series, it’s safe to say that Leonard is absolutely essential to the success of the Raptors. Look for Leonard to try and take over again in Game 4. Toronto are better off with Leonard taking 25-30 shots, as he is likely to fill it up on any night. Prop bettors should consider placing a wager on Leonard scoring over 30.5 points (-125). With the rate Leonard is shooting combined with the importance of this game, it is not crazy to think that Leonard could hit the 30 point mark with 6+ minutes in the fourth quarter.
Toronto was able to put a stop to their two game skid against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3. Fortunately for the Raptors, Tuesdays Game 4 will be in Toronto again. The Raptors have went 6-2 in their eight home games in the playoffs so far, winning their last three games played in Toronto.
Toronto Raptors Expected Starting Lineup
Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol
Toronto Raptors NBA Form
[table id=18 filter=”TOR” /]
Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will want to bounce back after a tough loss in Game 3. Antetokounmpo ended up fouling out in the double-overtime game, but not before he was able to grab 23 rebounds. The athletic Antetokounmpo was able to win the battle on the boards against Toronto’s Siakam and Gasol all night, allowing the Bucks to stay close all game despite shooting 37% from the field as a team. Guards George Hill and Malcolm Brogdon combined for 44 points together, with Hill leading all Bucks with 24 points. This same duo will need a similar performance if the Bucks are going to get it done on the road in Game 4, as Giannis will need the help on the road on Tuesday.
Milwaukee head into Game 4 with a solid 4-1 record in their last five playoff games. The Bucks came close to pulling off in impressive comeback in Game 3 in Toronto, but were unable to finish the job in the second overtime. Tuesday gives Milwaukee another chance to get a win in Toronto, as the Bucks look to improve on their impressive 4-1 road record in the postseason.
Milwaukee Bucks Expected Starting Lineup
Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Mirotic, Brook Lopez
Milwaukee Bucks NBA Form
[table id=18 filter=”MIL” /]
The Money Line
Here are how the odds to win the match look from the bookies ahead of the game.
Milwaukee Bucks to win @ 1.75 (3/4) with Unibet.
Toronto Raptors to win @ 2.25 (5/4) with Unibet.
Odds taken at 16:00 GMT 20/05/2019
Key Points
- Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is leading the Eastern Conference Finals in rebounding (14.6 rebounds per game)
- Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard is averaging 32.6 points per game through three games in this series
- Toronto’s 118 points in Game 3 is the most points given up by the Bucks in their entire playoff run
Our Verdict and Best Bets
What a series we have on our hands in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks and Raptors played out an unreal double-overtime Game 3 on Sunday, setting the stage for a pivotal Game 4 on Tuesday. Picking a winner to this game is just to hard to call. The Bucks have looked like the better team for a majority of this series, but the Raptors have made things interesting with a Game 3 win, and have been particularly hard to beat at home. Bettors should stay away from the moneyline, and instead consider placing a wager on the Under in this one. With sportsbooks putting a 216 point total on this game, under bettors will likely come out as winners on Tuesday. These are two teams that have really talented teams that lack elite scorers. The two last regular season games these two teams have played in Toronto has ended in under 206 points, and both teams ended in double-digit points at the end of regulation of Game 3 in Toronto. Historically, these two sides tend to have defensively focused tactics when playing in Toronto, creating a slower game. Game 4 is expected to have a similar playing pace.
