The Toronto Raptors start their NBA Cup journey against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The pregame narrative: RJ Barrett has struggled recently but I have reason to believe he will have a strong game tonight. Giannis Antetokounmpo has good value on his points prop while Jakob Poeltl is the target of the final leg in this +350 SGP.
Check out my Raptors vs. Bucks same-game parlay predictions for Nov. 12.
Raptors vs. Bucks predictions
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Parlay: Barrett over 20.5 points + Antetokounmpo over 30.5 points + Poeltl over 9.5 rebounds (+350)
Barrett over 20.5 points (-150): If you haven’t been paying attention, Barrett is finally fulfilling his potential with his home team.
The Canadian is averaging 23.1 points per game and has taken on a huge offensive responsibility with Scottie Barnes sidelined.
Barrett has missed this mark in three out of his last four games but there’s reason to be hopeful against the Bucks.
- Milwaukee owns the ninth-worst defensive rating (117.4)
- It allows the second-most points to opposing shooting guards (26.43)
- The Bucks also allow the third-most points to point guards (28.24)
I included the PG stat because Immanuel Quickley is a game-time decision with a new elbow injury and he was labelled as ‘iffy’, according to Rotowire.
Milwaukee has trouble defending at the point of attack and Barrett would undoubtedly be the top ball-handler with Quickley out.
Barrett is capable of going off in any game. He already has three 30-plus point performances in eight starts this season and I like the matchup here.
SGP legs
Antetokounmpo over 30.5 points (-167): Toronto plays hard every night but that doesn’t mean it has been good defensively.
To be frank, the Raptors own the worst defensive rating in the NBA (121.5).
They allow opponents to shoot the third-highest field goal percentage (48.5%) so this should be a matchup Giannis can feast in.
- Antetokounmpo has cleared this line in five of his last six games
- He averages 31.6 points per game.
Let’s be honest, no one on Toronto can guard Giannis near the basket.
Poeltl over 9.5 rebounds (-157): The big man averages 11.4 rebounds per game and will need to be out there as much as possible to nullify the Bucks’ size advantage.
Poeltl recorded double-digit rebounds in seven of the past nine games.
The Austrian is averaging a career-high 32.4 minutes per game (the next highest is 27.2) and is a huge part of the Raptors’ offence and defence.
Picks made at 11:25 a.m. on 11/12/24.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.