The Milwaukee Bucks stormed out to a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Raptors, leaving some to assume they would easily roll to the 2019 NBA Finals. The Raptors have since completely changed the narrative, roaring back to hand the Bucks their first three-game losing streak of the season, taking control of the series and setting up a potential elimination game at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday evening. Oddsmakers list Toronto, a team looking for its first trip to the finals in franchise history, as 2-point favorites in Game 6, up half a point from the opening line in the Bucks vs. Raptors odds. The over-under for total points is set at 212, down a point from the open. You'll want to see the NBA Playoffs 2019 predictions from the proven projection model at SportsLine before locking in Bucks vs. Raptors picks of your own.
This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, is crushing its NBA picks. It entered the conference finals in the 2019 NBA Playoffs with a sterling record on its top-rated picks, returning more than $3,000 in profit to anybody following them this season. And it has been particularly red-hot on its A-rated NBA money line picks, entering the conference finals on a strong 85-61 run. Anybody who has followed it is way up.
Now, it has crunched the numbers for Game 6 of Bucks vs. Raptors. We can tell you the model is leaning under, but it also has a much stronger play on the spread, saying one side cashes in almost 60 percent of simulations. That pick is available only at SportsLine.
The model has taken into account that Toronto has been paced by an MVP-caliber effort from Kawhi Leonard this postseason, and he came up huge yet again in Game 5 to push Milwaukee to the brink of elimination. Leonard scored 35 points, hitting 5 of 8 from 3-point territory, and also came up big on the boards (7) and dished out nine assists as well.
As tremendous as he's been, however, it's been the added help that's pushed Toronto to the next level. Pascal Siakam recorded 14 points and 13 boards in Game 5, while also blocking three shots. Kyle Lowry added 17 points and second-year guard Fred VanVleet might've been the most pleasant surprise for Toronto as he nailed seven 3-pointers for 21 crucial points.
But just because Toronto is rolling doesn't mean it will cover the Bucks vs. Raptors spread in Game 6 against the Milwaukee, the NBA's top team during the regular season.
Antetokounmpo, the likely league MVP, scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting in Game 5, but knows he must do more to extend Milwaukee's season. The Bucks are comfortable on the road, going 20-8-1 against the spread in their last 29 away games. And there's no guarantee Toronto's bench will continue to excel. Remember, VanVleet was 2-for-14 from long range over the first three games.
