The Los Angeles Lakers pay a visit to the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night. Here’s a Raptors vs Lakers Prediction. This article will include a Raptors vs Lakers Pick.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Lakers have been in great form as they were on a seven-game win streak before they got stopped in their tracks by the Suns in a 125-108 loss on Monday. Luka Doncic led the team with 38 points, 11 rebounds and five assists on 15 of 26 shooting, Austin Reaves added 16 points while Dalton Knecht chipped in with 13 points off the bench. As a team, the Lakers shot 51 percent from the field and 13 of 33 from the 3-point line but the Lakers were playing on zero days rest and it showed as they could never recover after getting outscored by 35-21 in the second quarter. The Lakers trailed in this one by as many as 25 points at one stage, LeBron James scored just 10 points on three of 10 shooting while the reliable Rui Hachimura finished scoreless in 23 minutes of action.
Toronto Raptors Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors have been in terrific form as they’ve won 10 of their past 12 games overall and they will be eager to keep it going after sneaking past the depleted Trail Blazers in a 121-118 home win on Tuesday. Scottie Barnes led the team with 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on 10 of 18 shooting, Immanuel Quickley added 23 points with eight assists on nine of 11 shooting while Brandon Ingram chipped in with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. As a team, the Raptors shot 53 percent from the field and 11 of 30 from the 3-point line as they held the Trail Blazers to just 20 points in the second quarter to take the lead into halftime. Before they went on a 18-8 run in the third quarter to push the margin out to 16 points, which was fortunate as the Raptors saw their lead cut to just two points late in the fourth quarter.
Why the Toronto Raptors will win
- The Raptors have won each of their last eight home games.
- The Lakers have lost 11 of their last 12 games against Raptors teams that held a winning record.
- The Raptors have covered the spread in each of their last seven games as favorites against Western Conference opponents following a win.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games against Raptors teams that held a winning record.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win
- The Raptors have lost each of their last eight night games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
- The Lakers have won four of their last five games as underdogs.
- The Raptors have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Lakers have covered the spread in each of their last four games following a loss.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Raptors’ last six games as favorites following a home win have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Eight of the Lakers’ last nine road games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total points line.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Raptors rank 1st in the league for opponent three-point percentage this season (32.3%).
- The Raptors rank 1st in the league for Q2 opponent points per game this season (26.0).
- The Lakers rank 1st in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (3.4).
- The Lakers rank 1st in the league for field goal percentage this season (51.3%).
Raptors vs Lakers Prediction
The Lakers are shorthanded for this one with Marcus Smart and Luka Doncic both ruled out, while the Raptors are missing Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett and AJ Lawson. The Lakers in terrific form before they lost to the Suns in their last outing and now they are going to be without Doncic who provides so much offense for them. The Lakers still have plenty of firepower to pick up the slack in the short term as Austin Rivers can step up again, but the Raptors have been sneaky good lately. I think they are deserved favorites at home in this one. This one could go either way, but I am leaning towards the Raptors to get the job done at home in this spot.