After an emotional 117-115 win over the Indiana Pacers last night – a game in which Myles Turner returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time since leaving this summer – the Milwaukee Bucks should have most of their squad available for their matchup against the Toronto Raptors tonight. 

This is the second game of a back-to-back for the Bucks, but with it being early in the season, Milwaukee should be able to rely on availability. 

“It’s what the NBA is,” guard AJ Green said in an interview following last night’s victory. “There’s no excuse, back-to-back, who you’re playing don’t matter. You gotta show up, and show up together, and so we’re gonna do that, hopefully make it a good road trip.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only other player on the injury report for the Bucks, though he is listed as probable. Antetokounmpo seems to be nursing a knee issue as well, and with a back-to-back, there is a chance he could be ruled out. As of the most recent injury report, though, he is probable to play. 

As for the Raptors, center Jakob Poeltl is questionable due to back injury management. Poeltl did not play last night in the Bucks’ win over the Pacers, and has not played since Oct. 27. 

Who Will the Bucks Have to Look Out For Tonight?

It has only been 11 days since the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors last faced off on Oct. 24. 

Across that span, the Bucks have gone 3-2. Thus, getting a second-straight win against the Raptors just three weeks into the regular season will continue to build momentum for a Milwaukee team still looking to establish itself amongst other Eastern Conference contenders.

In the Bucks’ previous matchup against the Raptors, forward Brandon Ingram proved to be the player Milwaukee found most difficult to neutralize. Ingram, who is averaging 22.3 points per game so far this season, dropped 29 points in that game almost two weeks ago. 

Therefore, if Milwaukee can hinder the former NBA All-Star’s offensive output in round two against the Raptors, the Bucks will have an easier time securing what would be their third win in a row.

Additional Raptors could present a challenge for Milwaukee

Limiting Ingram’s scoring will definitely assist the Bucks when facing off against the Raptors, but there are several other Toronto players who have put together solid showings to begin the young NBA season as well that Milwaukee may just have to look out for this time around.

The Bucks are already familiar with RJ Barrett, who has always put up reliable numbers when matching up against the Bucks.

Whether it was with the New York Knicks – whom Barrett played with for five and a half seasons before being traded to Toronto – or more recently with the Raptors, Barrett has played well against the green and white, averaging 18.7 points in 19 games all-time against Milwaukee, according to StatMuse. 

Then there are other players to be on the look out for – obvious ones like Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickly, but also less obvious ones like rookie Collin Murray-Boyles. 

Murray-Boyles has started three of the five games he’s played in to begin his rookie campaign, and in those contests has averaged 10.6 points. He has also shot well from distance, making jumpers from beyond the arc at a 46.2% clip. 

What Milwaukee has in its arsenal to counter the Raptors’ old reliables like Ingram, Barrett, Barnes, and Quickley, and their up-and-coming players like Murray-Boyles, though, is its depth. And more distributed scoring will certainly be on the horizon in game two of a back-to-back tonight against Toronto.