Bucks vs Raptors Picks and Predictions: Backups Lead to Boring Finale

With no seeding implications on the line, the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks will wrap up the regular season this afternoon with big minutes for their reserves.

The Bucks have locked up the No. 1 seed in the East and will rest all of their starters here, just as they did on Friday night in a 137-114 loss to the Grizzlies. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton & Co. will get a few extra days to prepare for the playoffs.

Likewise, there’s no reason for the Raptors to take any chances – after back-to-back losses in Boston, they’re confirmed as the No.9 seed, and Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and O.G. Anunoby are all due to sit out this season finale.

Find out more in our free Bucks vs. Raptors NBA picks and predictions for tonight’s regular-season finale.

Bucks vs Raptors best odds

Bucks vs Raptors picks and predictions

If you don’t enjoy the thrills and spills of NBA garbage time, this may not be the matchup for you on the final day of the season, but it’s an opportunity for the bench groups and fringe rotation players to shine in extended minutes.

While the Milwaukee Bucks gave a clear indication of what this means for their line-up in their loss on Friday, there’s less certainty over which Toronto Raptors players (beyond Siakam, VanVleet, and Anunoby) will be available to Nick Nurse this afternoon. Surely Toronto won’t use Scottie Barnes or Jakob Poeltl in a meaningless game, but Gary Trent Jr. might feature as he ramps up after an injury layoff.

Given those question marks, and Toronto’s struggles to create good looks without VanVleet on the floor, the hosts’ player props all feel a little risky.

I prefer the look of the Under. Sure, it would be a surprise to see either team especially locked in at the defensive end given the end-of-season vibe, but there’s going to be a real lack of shot-making on the floor. The defenses should be a step ahead of the offenses, nudging the total toward the Under.

The Raptors have struggled from 3-point range at the best of times, and their reserves are unlikely to light it up from beyond the arc. Thanasis Antetokounmpo, MarJon Beauchamp, and Lindell Wigginton all saw big minutes for the Bucks on Friday with mixed results, and they’ll be asked to shoulder a similar workload here.

I like the look of these odds for a game that won’t win any awards for the quality of basketball.

My best bet: Under 225 (-108 at Pinnacle)

Bucks vs Raptors spread analysis

The Raptors are 3.5-point favorites this afternoon which feels more or less like a shrug from the oddsmakers with both teams resting key starters. Still, Nurse’s men are 26-14 at home this season and they’ve covered the spread in their last five games following a SU loss by more than 10 points.

This game felt more significant for the hosts a week ago, but Toronto’s failure to win either of its two games against the depleted Celtics gave the Hawks an easy path to the No. 8 seed.

It’s been a long, frustrating season for some of the Raptors’ backups, but there will be no shortage of minutes and touches available today. The likes of Malachi Flynn, Will Barton, and Dalano Banton will have a green light to fire up shots.

Wigginton got the same memo for his extended action on Friday, finishing with 25 points and 11 assists. The Bucks may use this afternoon’s game as another chance to get game-time and conditioning for Jae Crowder and Goran Dragic – and that at least gives the visitors some veteran leadership to set the tone.

Bucks vs Raptors Over/Under analysis

With second-string lineups set to soak up all the minutes this afternoon, there’s not much to gauge from the two teams’ recent numbers. For what it’s worth, the Under has been a winning ticket in the last five meetings in Toronto and in 11 of the last 14 meetings overall. 

Though the Bucks are coming off a big total on Friday, the Grizzlies were still playing their starters, and Jaren Jackson Jr. poured in 36 points, but the visitors aren’t going to face that kind of offensive threat here. Milwaukee shot 45% from the field last time out, but Beauchamp, Meyers Leonard, and Jevon Carter all struggled to knock down shots.

The Raptors’ offensive shortcomings were laid bare in Boston this week as they managed 93 points and 102 points in two dispiriting losses – and there’s likely to be even less spacing for the hosts this afternoon.

Bucks vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Raptors have been a good ATS team at home over the past month. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Raptors.

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