Wizards vs. Raptors Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The Toronto Raptors return to their Tampa, Fla., one-season home Thursday to tip off a three-game homestand against the Washington Wizards in a crucial matchup. The Raptors opened as 3-point favourites on the NBA odds.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
If the Raptors have any hope of catching the Wizards for the final spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, and the odds are pretty long, then they have to win this game or it’s all but over. Washington’s Bradley Beal is also battling for his first NBA scoring title with Golden State’s Steph Curry, who has pulled ahead. Russell Westbrook is going to win the NBA’s assists title.
Toronto already has clinched the season series, up 2-0, so that could be a crucial tiebreaker. The Dinos won 137-115 in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 10 and 103-101 in Tampa on April 5. Gary Trent Jr. hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer in that one.
Beal only played in the first game and had 24 points. Westbrook is averaging 23.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists in the two games – he will average a triple-double overall this season for the fourth time in his career, which is just unfathomable. Oscar Robertson is the only other player to average a season triple-double and he did it once, in 1961-62.
Pascal Siakam is essentially the only Raptors regular who played in both games and he is averaging 24.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. The Raptors are 9-1 in the past 10 meetings but 5-5 against the spread. The over is 7-1 in the past eight.
Washington Wizards
At 30-36, Washington is three games up on Toronto for the final spot in the East play-in tournament. Toronto caught a break Wednesday when the Wizards lost 135-134 to the Bucks, who were playing in the second of a back-to-back, in a potential major letdown spot and without All-Star Khris Middleton due to injury. Plus, Giannis Antetokounmpo fouled out with about two minutes left. Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 17 assists and 12 rebounds for his 179th career triple-double. He’s now three shy of breaking Oscar Robertson’s all-time record of 181. Bradley Beal added 42 points and is averaging 31.1 points on the season, second to Steph Curry’s 31.5. It was Beal’s seventh game this season with at least 40, and he has 17 combined over the past two seasons. The Wizards are 2-15 in those games. Washington is 5-0 ATS in their past five games after a loss.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto was a 105-100 loser against the Clippers on Tuesday to end a four-game trip through the Western Conference at 1-3. Kyle Lowry was a late scratch but he is not on the injury report for this one. OG Anunoby (left calf) and Chris Boucher (knee) both also were out and won’t play here. Fred VanVleet had 27 points and 13 assists Tuesday in his return after missing eight games with a sore hip. In theory, every “healthy” key Raptors player should go here, but you could see Operation Shutdown if Toronto loses. The Raptors are 4-0 in their past four as home favourites.
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