After a thrilling 117-115 victory over the Pacers on Monday night, the Bucks will travel back to Canada for the second time in two weeks to take on the Raptors in the second leg of a back-to-back set. It was a tight contest when Milwaukee bested Toronto on October 24, with the game tied 86-86 after three quarters, though the Bucks would eventually pull away for a six-point win.
Will we get another back-and-forth affair this evening? Will everyone play? Let’s preview tonight’s tilt with the help of some of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Bucks vs. Raptors prediction, preview
We’re obviously going to start this preview with some analysis on Giannis Antetokounmpo. How could you begin any other way? Not only was Giannis the one that hit the game-winning shot over an outstretched Aaron Nesmith last night, but the All-Star is playing like a man who wants his third MVP award. Through six starts, Antetokounmpo is averaging an NBA-best 34.0 points per game with a massive 35.2% usage rate. It’s not the highest Antetokounmpo’s usage rate has ever been, but it does feel like the 30-year-old is having to shoulder a heavier load than in years past, with no real secondary superstar currently residing in Milwaukee. Even when Giannis was won back-to-back MVPs in 2018-19 and 2019-20, he had Khris Middleton by his side. This season? It’s Ryan Rollins who is second on the team in scoring. Myles Turner has struggled to find the scoresheet in his first campaign with the Bucks. While Kyle Kuzma is suddenly a very handsomely paid sixth man. This is not a roster that screams contender.
That said, Milwaukee is perfectly equipped to ride Antetokounmpo’s success throughout the regular season, and that’s translated into the Bucks being tied atop the Eastern Conference with the Bulls, the 76ers and the Pistons with five wins. If Milwaukee wants to stay near the one seed, it will likely have to rely on Antetokounmpo to play more than he has in recent years, as Giannis has missed at least 15 contests in four of the past five seasons. That means playing both nights on back-to-backs — something the Bucks have yet to encounter in 2025-26. Even so, we’ve already seen Antetokounmpo go from available, to probable, to out, when he missed last Thursday’s tilt against the Warriors. He was also listed as questionable with a knee issue heading into Monday’s game in Indiana. Let’s just say that my “rest radar” is on high alert for this evening in Toronto.
I’m sure the Raptors would gladly see Antetokounmpo in street clothes. After a 1-4 start to the season, Toronto has ripped off back-to-back wins over the Cavaliers and the Grizzlies — though both came with an asterisk. Cleveland was without Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, while Memphis had suspended Ja Morant for Sunday night’s game at Scotiabank Arena. So, despite the fact that Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett have all been playing quite well, the Raptors don’t have a victory over a “full” team since all the way back on opening night against the Hawks. It remains to be seen if the Bucks will give them the chance to change that trend this evening.
Bucks vs. Raptors pick, best bet
Best Bet: Ryan Rollins 15+ Points (-110)
Rollins scored 32 points and led all Bucks starters with a 26.2% usage rate when Antetokounmpo sat against Golden State. Even if Giannis plays tonight, this is a good environment for points, as the Raptors rank eighth in pace (103.1) and 25th in defensive rating (117.1).
