NBA Playoff Betting Preview: Game 6 Clashes

A pair of Game 6 matchups are on the NBA playoff schedule Thursday night, as the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs can both advance to the next round with a win.

Toronto holds a 3-2 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks heading into Game 6. The Raptors delivered a big win at home in Game 5, defeating Milwaukee 118-93 as a 6-point favorite. Norman Powell had one of the best games of his career to propel Toronto to victory with a team-high 25 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and added nine rebounds for Milwaukee in the loss.

For Game 6 the series returns to Milwaukee, where the Bucks are 1-1 straight up and against the spread so far in the series. In their last seven home games Milwaukee owns a lackluster 2-5 record ATS and they're 4-3 SU. In the playoffs, home court advantage hasn't meant much for the Bucks, as they are 2-6 SU and 3-5 ATS in their last eight home playoff games.

The Raptors have a poor history when playing in a Game 6 in the postseason. Toronto has played in a Games 6 six times in their history, posting a 1-5 record SU. The Raptors haven't won a Game 6 since 2001.

Despite the Raptors' poor Game 6 history they're a -700 favorite to take the series at the Bovada Sportsbook. Milwaukee is a +450 underdog to come back in the series.

In the other game on Thursday night San Antonio looks to knock off the Memphis Grizzlies. The Spurs took a 3-2 series lead with a 116-103 win in Game 5 as a 10.5-point home favorite. Kawhi Leonard paced the Spurs with 28 points, and Patty Mills chipped in with 20 points off the bench. Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 26 points and six assists.

With the Game 5 win the Spurs improved to 5-3 SU and 3-5 ATS in their last eight versus Memphis. The win also maintained the home court series trend, as the home team has won every game SU and ATS. In the last nine games overall between the Spurs and Grizzlies the home team has won all nine.

Playing on the road has been tough for the Spurs lately. San Antonio heads into Memphis for Game 6 having lost four in a row both SU and ATS on the road.

The oddsmakers at the Bovada Sportsbook think this series is over after listing San Antonio as a -2200 series favorite. If you think Memphis can come back to take the next two games they're available at +1000.