Oklahoma City Thunder Vs. Toronto Raptors
11/6/12 Dan’s Free NBA Basketball Pick Against the Spread
The Oklahoma City Thunder looks to re-group as they play host to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
Head to head, the Raptors are 3-8 ATS in the last 11 meetings and 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Oklahoma City, while the home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings. The Thunder are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record, but just 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Raptors on the other hand are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. Western Conference, but just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a S.U. win.
Off to their worst start since relocating from Seattle, the Oklahoma City Thunder hope to improve on their 1-2 mark to start the season. While the Thunder need time to adjust to life without James Harden, who was dealt just days before the opening game of the season, his replacement in Kevin Martin looks like he is if fitting right in. Martin is averaging 20.7 points per game off the bench in three games and has connected on 12-17 from beyond the arc, making six three’s and finishing with a team best 28 points in Sunday’s 104-95 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
After two close losses to start the season, the Raptors broke through with an emphatic 105-86 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at Air Canada Center. Kyle Lowry continued his blistering start to the season with his new club with 22 points, while DeMar DeRozan also added 22 and grabbed seven boards. Through three games, Lowry is averaging 23.7 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, while also collecting 11 of the Raptors 29 steals as a team this season.
While both the Thunder and the Raptors sit at 1-2 through the first week, both are unlucky not to be 2-1 after having game winners hit on them in their season openers. While OKC will be out to atone for their poor showing against the Hawks, I don’t think this Toronto squad will be pushovers by any means. Led the underrated Kyle Lowry, the Raptors are an improving team with plenty of upside moving forward. I would probably stay away from this one, but taking the points seems like the right thing to do…
Dan’s Pick: Toronto +9
