Streaking Bucks return home as slim underdogs against Raptors in NBA
Published:
Daniel Coyle, American Sports Correspondent | March 15, 2016
Milwaukee Bucks will try to continue their winning ways on home court on Tuesday, when they play host to Toronto Raptors as 2.5-point underdogs in NBA betting with Coral.
Following a rare road victory on Sunday, in a 109-100 win over the Nets in Brooklyn as 1.5-point chalk, Milwaukee return home for Tuesday night’s Raptors vs. Bucks matchup at Bradley Center, looking for their fourth straight up win in their past five home contests.
While the Bucks remain well out of contention to qualify for the postseason, five games back of Chicago Bulls for the eighth and final playoff spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, they have played solid ball of late, posting SU wins in nine of their past 16 and going undefeated ATS in five of their last six.
But it has been the Bucks’ play at home that has been the story in Milwaukee this season. Unlike their dismal road performances this year that have seen them claim SU wins in just nine of 35 contests, Bucks have enjoyed home cooking, going 20-12 SU on the hardwood at Bradley Center, and an impressive 10-8 SU as home underdogs in NBA betting.
Bucks take on a Raptors squad that is coming off yet another SU loss to Chicago, a 109-107 defeat at Air Canada Centre that drops them to 0-9 SU in their past nine against Bulls.
The loss also drops the Dinos to 5-3 SU in their past eight, 3-5 ATS. However, with just six SU losses in their past 29 overall, Toronto remain a force in the Eastern Conference, just 2.5 games back of first-place Cleveland, and a 7/1 bet to reach the NBA Finals.
Toronto (25/1 to win the NBA Championship) have also dominated the Bucks in recent meetings, claiming SU wins in their past four visits to Milwaukee, including a lopsided 111-90 victory on Boxing Day, and are 9-1 SU in their previous 10 clashes overall.
Los Angeles Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs (-8.5)
In Western Conference action on Tuesday night, Los Angeles Clippers will be looking to end Spurs’ SU winning streak on home court when they visit San Antonio as 8.5-point underdogs.
Clips have cooled off since going on an 7-1 SU tear in late January, hobbling to a 7-6 SU record in 13 games since, including losses to Golden State, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Cleveland. But, with 42 wins from the season, they remain entrenched in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, just two games back of Thunder.
With just four SU losses since Christmas Day, Spurs (7/2 to win the NBA Championship) have already clinched top spot in the Southwest Division, leading Memphis by a massive 17.5 games, and have kept pace with Warriors, whom they trail by just four games in the Western Conference standings.
Tuesday night marks the third and final meeting of the regular season between these two clubs.
Both squads picked up SU home wins earlier this season, but it is Clippers that have held the upper hand in recent head-to-head matchups, going 7-4 SU over their past 11, including a first-round victory over Spurs in last season’s NBA playoffs, bouncing San Antonio in seven games.
Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers (-2.5)
In other NBA betting action at Coral on Tuesday, Indiana Pacers kick off a crucial five-game homestand as 2.5-point favourites against the visiting Boston Celtics.
Pacers have won four of six to maintain their grasp on seventh place in the East, but are a mediocre 4-4 SU, 3-5 ATS, in their past eight at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. However, Celtics have struggled on the road of late, claiming victory in just one of their past five.
Brooklyn Nets will look to end a four-game SU losing streak when they host the last-place Philadelphia 76ers as 7.5-point chalk, while Sacramento Kings visit Los Angeles Lakers as 3.5-point road favourites in a battle of Western Conference also-rans.
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