[8:00 PM] Raptors @ Bucks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Raptors (9-6)

@ Milwaukee Bucks (6-7)

 

• DeMar DeRozan remains at a 30-points-per-night level, but the Toronto Raptors are developing other scoring options and staying in the win column. The Raptors will try to find their way to back-to-back triumphs when they wrap up a five-game road trip by visiting the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Toronto gave itself a chance at a winning trip and avoided a three-game slide by placing six scorers in double figures in a 115-102 win at Houston on Wednesday, but remain unhappy about a downward trend on the defensive end.

• The Bucks dropped five of their last seven games but are coming off a 93-89 win over Orlando that featured another strong performance from budding star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 21-year-old recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and three blocks for his first triple-double of the season.

• Toronto small forward DeMarre Carroll underwent knee surgery last season and is being monitored carefully in an effort to keep him fully healthy throughout this campaign. Carroll sat out the second night of a back-to-back on Monday and responded with a season-high 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting on Wednesday.

• Antetokounmpo was asked to play point guard after the All-Star break last season and is spending his time in 2016-17 moving from the point, to the wing and to the post in coach Jason Kidd’s offense. Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks in scoring (21.8), rebounding (8.5), steals (two) and blocks (2.2) while sitting second in assists (5.8) behind Matthew Dellavedova (six).

• Toronto swept the four-game series last season by an average of 16.3 points.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Toronto Raptors

Confidence: 5/10

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