The Toronto Raptors will be looking to capture their first series lead of the 2017 NBA playoffs when they travel to Milwaukee on Thursday to face the Bucks in Game 3 as small 1.5-point underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Toronto rebounded from a shocking 97-83 loss as heavy eight-point chalk in Game 1 to post a 106-100 victory while favoured by eight points in Game 2 to even this first-round series at a game apiece. However the Raptors remain winless against the spread in three dates with Milwaukee ahead of Thursday night’s Raptors versus Bucks betting matchup at Bradley Center.
The Raptors finished the regular season on a strong 12-2 straight-up run, but continue to be a disappointment for bettors, going 3-6-1 ATS over their past 10 contests. That has fuelled a shaky 30-29-1 ATS record as betting favourites this season.
However, Toronto has been much kinder to bettors in recent road outings, going 5-1-1 ATS in its past seven games away from Air Canada Centre, including outright wins as betting underdogs over the Miami Heat and the Detroit Pistons.
After enduring a brutal 6-14 SU run, the Raptors are also 6-1 SU in their past seven road dates, outscoring opponents by an average of 12 points per game and limiting them to 86 or fewer points on four occasions.
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Whether the club is winning or losing on the court, the UNDER has consistently prevailed for totals bettors when Toronto hits the road, going 15-5-1 over the club’s past 21 dates, according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
The Bucks emerged as one of the surprises of the NBA season after catching fire in early March, posting SU wins in 14 of 17 outings. Milwaukee struggled down the stretch, losing SU in four of its final six regular-season contests, and went 7-10 ATS in its final 17 outings.
Milwaukee is a solid 8-2 SU in its past 10 games at Bradley Center, and 9-3 SU in its past 12 games as a home favourite, and has also been a solid bet when favoured by two or fewer points on home hardwood, going 12-6 SU and 11-6-1 ATS in its past 18 games.
Despite their recent struggles with the Bucks, which includes a 101-94 loss in Milwaukee on March 4, the Raptors have largely dominated in recent meetings between these two clubs, going 14-3 SU and 10-6-1 ATS in their past 17 matchups, and are unbeaten SU and ATS in three straight visits to Milwaukee as betting underdogs.