{"id":105785,"date":"2019-05-24T18:38:04","date_gmt":"2019-05-25T01:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=105785"},"modified":"2019-05-24T18:38:04","modified_gmt":"2019-05-25T01:38:04","slug":"raptors-on-the-cusp-of-nba-finals-but-handicappers-bettors-not-quite-convinced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/raptors-on-the-cusp-of-nba-finals-but-handicappers-bettors-not-quite-convinced\/","title":{"rendered":"Raptors on the Cusp of NBA Finals, but Handicappers, Bettors Not Quite Convinced"},"content":{"rendered":"

Toronto overcame a 14-point first half deficit and needed a big rally in the fourth quarter to win Thursday night\u2019s Game 5 105-99 at Milwaukee. Now, after losing the first two games of the NBA\u2019s Eastern Conference final, the Raptors find themselves on the brink on their first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) tries a shot against Kawhi Leonard in Game 5. Toronto leads 3-2 and can clinch its first Eastern Conference title Saturday night. (Image: Nathaniel S. Butler\/NBAE via Getty Images).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But, while Toronto has reeled off three straight wins in the best-of-seven series, are bettors and oddsmakers confident about the Raptors chances?<\/p>\n

In the moments after Game 5 ended, PropSwap, a secondary market for sportsbook tickets, brokered sales for at least three Raptors futures bets, including a $500 ticket on the Raptors to win the series at +162 odds to win for $1,300. Another $500 Raptors series bet, this one with +133 odds, went for $900.<\/p>\n

PropSwap<\/a> co-founder Luke Pergande told Casino.org that\u2019s a sign bettors are bearish on the Raptors.<\/p>\n

Our sellers still think Milwaukee wins this,\u201d <\/span><\/strong>Pergande said.<\/span> \u201cAnd looking at the odds, so do the books.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When the series started nine days ago, the Westgate SuperBook offered the Bucks as -330 favorites, while offering the Raptors at +260. After Milwaukee won the first two games, FanDuel listed the Bucks at -650 and the Raptors at +430.<\/p>\n

By Friday morning, the Raptors had become the SuperBook\u2019s favorite at -240, while the Bucks, who now need to win the remaining two games to win the series, are priced at +190. FanDuel offered similar prices, -245 for Toronto and +194 for the Bucks.<\/p>\n

While Toronto has put itself in a position to win the series and become the favorite, odds of -245 are not necessarily low odds for a team in the Raptors’ position. It also would be likely to see the odds flip again if Milwaukee can force a Game 7, which the Bucks would host.<\/p>\n

Game 6 Saturday Night<\/h2>\n

The Raptors will get a chance to close out the series at home on Saturday. They opened as two-point favorites at most Las Vegas sportsbooks, and the line has since moved to 2.5.<\/p>\n

As a home favorite, according to teamrankings.com, Toronto is 23-26 this season against the spread at home.<\/p>\n

Adding to the intrigue Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo left Game 5 late with an ankle injury, although he told reporters after the game that he felt fine.<\/p>\n

Antetokounmpo said his teammates know their backs are against the wall.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe got to get Game 6,\u201d he said. \u201cWe got to fix anything we\u2019re doing wrong right now. We\u2019re just trying to play winning basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This season, Milwaukee is 19-6 against the spread coming off a loss, and they\u2019re 8-3 as a road underdog. However, in this series, the Bucks have failed to cover in the last three games.<\/p>\n

Warriors Await<\/h2>\n

While Milwaukee and Toronto continue to battle, Golden State gets to rest up in hopes of a threepeat.<\/p>\n

And the Warriors<\/a> also see their odds get even lower, even if Kevin Durant may not make it back for the entire series,<\/p>\n

Golden State, which was -220 at FanDuel to win it all after sweeping Portland, is now -300. The Raptors have moved from +1000 to +370, while Milwaukee has gone from +195 to +150.<\/p>\n

The SuperBook lists the Warriors at -275, the Raptors at +400, and the Bucks at +700.<\/p>\n

However, when it comes to head-to-head series betting, oddsmakers think the Bucks would have a better chance against the Warriors than the Raptors.<\/p>\n

At the SuperBook, the Warriors are a -240 favorite against the Bucks (+190). However, they\u2019re a -300 favorite against the Raptors (+260). FanDuel has it -210\/+175 for Warriors-Bucks and -250\/+205 for Warriors-Raptors.<\/p>\n

Regardless of when the Eastern Conference final ends, the NBA Finals will start on May 30.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toronto overcame a 14-point first half deficit and needed a big rally in the fourth quarter to win Thursday night\u2019s Game 5 105-99 at Milwaukee. Now, after losing the first two games of the NBA\u2019s Eastern Conference final, the Raptors find themselves on the brink on their first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals. But, while […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":105786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,1074],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRaptors on the Cusp of NBA Finals, but Handicappers, Bettors Not Quite Convinced<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Toronto overcame a 14-point first half deficit and needed a big rally in the fourth quarter to win Thursday night\u2019s Game 5 105-99 at Milwaukee. 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