Giannis Antetokounmpo set the tone early in a decisive Game 2 victory in Milwaukee. Now, the Bucks head north to Toronto for Game 3 with the Raptors desperately needing a victory. Here’s a sports betting recap of Game 2 and a look ahead to today’s matchup in Toronto.
The Milwaukee Bucks opened up Game 3 with a 9-0 run and seemingly never looked back. The stretch was a microcosm of the Bucks’ playoff run thus far — with Giannis Antetokounmpo making plays on both sides of the floor.
Giannis scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Bucks to a lopsided 125-103 victory. Milwaukee easily covered the 6.5-point spread and the game total went over the 219 O/U.
The Bucks won the turnover battle and cashed in on all of their opportunities. Milwaukee forced 13 turnovers — scoring 19 points off turnovers and collecting 28 fast break points. The game felt over before it even started.
Brook Lopez was the role player to lead headlines in Game 1. In Game 2, that distinction belonged to Ersan Ilyasova — who collected 17 points off the bench on 7 for 11 shooting. Fifteen of Ilyasova’s points came in the first half — helping develop the 64-39 halftime lead for the Bucks.
In defeat, Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points on 10/18 shooting. That ends the list of positives for the Raptors who clearly hope home court could spark the listless squad. The Raptors are markedly better at home — not going out on a limb — with a 13.5 net rating versus their -4.1 mark on the road. The future is looking bleak and the Raptors should cling to anything that brings them hope.
Toronto is set as a two-point favorite at home despite the two rough defeats on the road. FanDuel Sportsbook also pegs the implied total at 219 points.
Stat of the Day
Eastern Conference coaches and executives likely rejoiced when LeBron James shifted to the Western Conference in the offseason. The emergence of Giannis throughout the season postseason gives them someone new to fear for years to come. Giannis made history on Thursday night — joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Bucks’ postseason lore.
Prop Shop: Kawhi Leonard O/U 31.5 Points
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 and 30 point in Milwaukee in the first two games of the series. While the aforementioned pace of the game will likely be slower in Toronto, Leonard still boasts a 33.0 PPG average at home throughout the playoff run.
FanDuel Sportsbook sets the line at 31.5 points for Kawhi this evening. In a must-win game, I am going to roll with the superstar at home. Breakfast Lean: Kawhi Leonard Over 31.5 Points
The Breakfast Pick
Hindsight bias will likely weigh on many bettors’ minds when hopping on FanDuel Sportsbook to check the lines today. After watching the Bucks lap the Raptors on Thursday, Milwaukee as an underdog is a notion extremely challenging to conceive.
That said, the Raptors — like most teams — are completely different at home. The Raptors will attempt to control the pace at home — playing at a 96.29 number at home. For reference, the Bucks keep a 103.14 pace at home — with home teams usually dictating pace behind the home crowd. The Raptors will limit the up-and-down pace — making the 219 total potentially very lofty.
Yet, Milwaukee bettors also have a pretty convincing argument — Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis continues to emerge as a superstar in front of viewers’ eyes. The Raptors will be working hard to game plan for the superstar — while I keep believing. Breakfast Lean: Milwaukee Moneyline + 108
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