Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick & Prediction 1/17/25
At 8:00 ET, the Toronto Raptors will travel to take on the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. The Bucks are favored by 11 and have a record of 22-17, which is good for 4th in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors are 13th in the East with a record of 10-31.
This game will be shown on SN and the over/under line is set at 229.
TORONTO RAPTORS VS MILWAUKEE BUCKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Toronto Raptors +11
This game will be played at Fiserv Forum at 8:00 ET on Friday, January 17th.
WHY BET THE TORONTO RAPTORS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 142-140 in favor of the Raptors.
- Our projections have RJ Barrett finishing with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
- From the field, we have the Raptors finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.4% and knocking down 13 threes.
Will the Raptors Make it Happen on the Road?
The Raptors improved to 10-31 on the season after a 110-97 home win over the Celtics on Wednesday. Toronto entered the game as +14 point underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but covered the spread. The total score of 207 points fell well short of the 229.5 O/U line.
A key moment came when Toronto went on a 12-0 run, turning a 34-29 deficit into a 41-34 lead. They outscored Boston 22-15 in the 4th quarter to seal the win.
In their win over the Celtics, the Raptors shot 50.6% from the field, with RJ Barrett leading the way, scoring 22 points, 8 assists, and 10 rebounds. Scottie Barnes contributed 18 points and 9 assists, while Jakob Poeltl was perfect from the field, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Toronto made 11 threes, shooting 32.4% from beyond the arc. Poeltl scored 10 of his 16 points in the 3rd quarter, while Barnes added 8 points in the 4th.
The Raptors held the Celtics to 97 points on Wednesday, giving up 29 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters but tightening up in the 4th, where they allowed just 15 points. Toronto’s defense limited Boston to 39% shooting from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Celtics hit 16 threes at a 34% clip. The Raptors also sent Boston to the line 18 times, where they made 9 free throws. Toronto finished with 43 defensive rebounds, allowed 13 offensive boards, and recorded 4 steals and 4 blocks.
Can the Bucks Grab a Win at Home?
The Bucks improved to 22-17 on the season with a dominant 122-93 win over the Magic on Wednesday. Playing at home, Milwaukee entered the game as -6.5 point favorites and covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game reached 215, narrowly surpassing the O/U line of 212.5.
A 19-0 run early in the game helped the Bucks take control, stretching the score from 11-9 to 30-9. Milwaukee led 34-16 after the 1st quarter and continued to outscore Orlando in each of the remaining quarters, including a 30-25 edge in the 4th.
In their win over the Magic, the Bucks shot 62.5% from the field, with Damian Lillard leading the way, hitting 3 threes at 100% and finishing with 30 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 26 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 73.3% from the floor.
Milwaukee made just 7 threes, but connected at a 58.3% rate. Lillard scored 11 points in the 1st quarter, while Giannis poured in 14 in the 3rd.
The Bucks put on a defensive clinic against the Magic, holding them to just 93 points on 34% shooting. Milwaukee set the tone early, allowing only 16 points in the 1st quarter and keeping Orlando in check throughout the game, giving up 25 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters.
Milwaukee’s defense was particularly effective from beyond the arc, where they limited the Magic to 12 threes on 26% shooting. The Bucks also sent Orlando to the free-throw line 21 times, where they converted 15. Milwaukee controlled the glass with 46 defensive rebounds and added 10 steals and 10 blocks.