The Toronto Raptors play host to the Charlotte Hornets at the Scotiabank Arena on Friday night. Here’s a Raptors vs Hornets Prediction. This article will include a Raptors vs Hornets Pick.
Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview
The Charlotte Hornets have been in a slump as they’ve lost 15 nine of their last 11 games and they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting trounced by the Knicks in a 119-104 road defeat on Wednesday. LaMelo Ball led the team with 34 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, Kon Knueppel and Tidjane Salaun each scored 13 points while Sion James chipped in with 11 points. As a team, the Hornets shot 40 percent from the field and 13 of 42 from the 3-point line as they got off to a terrible start and scored just 12 points in the first quarter to fall behind right away. Things only got worse in the third quarter where they allowed 37 points to trail by as many as 22 points.
Toronto Raptors Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors have cooled off from their nine-game win streak as they have lost three of their past four games. They will be eager to bounce back after getting stopped by the Lakers in a heartbreaking 123-120 loss last night. Scottie Barnes led the team with 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists on eight of 16 shooting, Brandon Ingram added 20 points with seven rebounds and seven assists while Ja’Kobe Walter chipped in with 17 points on six of 10 shooting. As a team, the Raptors shot 49 percent from the field and 15 of 37 from the 3-point line as they allowed the Lakers to get off to a flyer. They had to claw their way back from a 13-point deficit to take a two-point lead with 49.2 seconds left in the game, but the Raptors missed a chance to go ahead on the next possession. They got stung by the Lakers’ Rui Hachimura, who drained the game winner at the buzzer to snatch the game away at the death.
Why the Toronto Raptors will win
- The Hornets have lost each of their last 18 road games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Raptors have won each of their last 10 home games against the Hornets.
- The Hornets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight games when playing with a rest advantage.
- The home team has covered the spread in each of the Hornets’ last four games.
Why the Charlotte Hornets will win
- The Raptors have lost each of their last six games on the second leg of a back-to-back after losing as favorites.
- The underdogs have won three of the Hornets’ last four games.
- The Raptors have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games.
- The Hornets have covered the spread in five of their last six games against Raptors teams that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Raptors’ last seven games as home favorites following a home loss have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Hornets’ last six games have gone UNDER the total points line.
Toronto Raptors Player Facts
- Immanuel Quickley has recorded 23 games with 3+ assists this season – most of any player in the league.
- Scottie Barnes rank 1st in the league for total steals + blocks (71) this season.
Charlotte Hornets Player Facts
- Kon Knueppel ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for FT% (90.2%) this season.
- Miles Bridges ranks 10th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for FT% (86.5%) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Raptors rank 1st for fast break points (470) this season.
- The Raptors rank 1st for fast break points per game (20.4) this season.
- The Hornets rank 30th in the league for steals per game this season (6.5).
- The Hornets rank 30th in the league for opponent three-point percentage this season (39.7%).
Raptors vs Hornets Prediction
The Hornets are still missing some players with Pat Connaughton and Collin Sexton out, with Tre Mann, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Brandon Miller all listed as questionable, while the Raptors are missing RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Ochai Agbaji. The Raptors are playing their second game of a back to back set, which is always tough, but both games are at home so they haven’t had to travel. They are up against a struggling Hornets team with a dark injury cloud hanging over them. The line is reasonable for this one, so I am leaning towards the Raptors, who are coming off a tough loss.