The Toronto Raptors start a two-game “baseball-type” home series against LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. The Dinos are 7-point favourites on the NBA odds.

Hornets vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds

Tuesday is the first of four regular-season meetings between the teams with them playing again Thursday at Scotiabank Arena and then back-to-back matchups in Charlotte on April 2 & 4. The Hornets will be long eliminated from playoff contention then.

Last season, the Raptors won two of three in the series. Gary Trent Jr. averaged 22.7 points, OG Anunoby (two games) 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds, Scottie Barnes (two games) 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, and Pascal Siakam (18.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists).

Miles Bridges averaged 19.3 points in the series for Charlotte but remains a restricted free agent on the open market because in November he pleaded no contest to one felony count of injuring a child’s parent and was given three years of probation and avoided jail time. Not clear if any team will take a shot on signing him this season. Former NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball averaged 17.7 points and 7.3 assists vs. the Dinos last year.

Charlotte leads the all-time series 47-42 but is 19-27 as the road team. The Hornets are 6-2 ATS in the past eight overall.

Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte hasn’t won back-to-back games since Nov. 25 & ’27 and lost another chance to do so on Sunday with a 116-111 loss at Indiana despite leading most of the way and still by nine early in the fourth. Mason Plumlee attempted a dunk with 13 seconds left that would have brought Charlotte within a point, but it was blocked by Myles Turner and that basically clinched it for the Pacers. Plumlee, having a career year, had 18 points and 13 rebounds, while PJ Washington had a team-high 22 points. The team was again with two key injured players in Gordon Hayward (13.7 ppg) and Kelly Oubre (20.2 ppg). Hayward possibly could return here. Charlotte is 5-2-1 ATS in its past eight after a loss.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak with a 117-105 win over visiting Portland on Sunday. Pascal Siakam had 27 points and six assists, Scottie Barnes 22 points and nine rebounds, and Gary Trent Jr. 19 points, ending his career-high streak of six straight games with at least 20. Siakam has scored at least 25 points in nine of his past 11 and is averaging 28.4 points in that stretch. All five Raptors starters scored in double figures Sunday and the team is 5-2 this season when that happens. Toronto forced 24 turnovers – a season worst for the Trail Blazers – leading to 29 points. The Dinos lead the league in points off turnovers (21.8). Toronto is 2-7 ATS in its past nine at home.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Hornets vs. Raptors?

• Regular Season

Hornets Team Leaders

CHA

Points	LaMelo Ball 23.28
Assists	LaMelo Ball 8.44
Rebounds	LaMelo Ball 6.42
FG%	Mark Williams 64.1
Steals	Dennis Smith Jr. 1.41
Blocks	P.J. Washington 1.13

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 24.08
Assists	Fred VanVleet 7.03
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 9.38
FG%	Justin Champagnie 100
Steals	O.G. Anunoby 1.97
Blocks	Jakob Poeltl 1.56

• Regular Season

Raptors Team Leaders

CHA

Points	LaMelo Ball 23.28
Assists	LaMelo Ball 8.44
Rebounds	LaMelo Ball 6.42
FG%	Mark Williams 64.1
Steals	Dennis Smith Jr. 1.41
Blocks	P.J. Washington 1.13

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 24.08
Assists	Fred VanVleet 7.03
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 9.38
FG%	Justin Champagnie 100
Steals	O.G. Anunoby 1.97
Blocks	Jakob Poeltl 1.56

Injuries

Charlotte

James Bouknight (SG)

Ques Thurs Ankle - 12 / 03 / 23

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)

Prob Tues Back - 12 / 03 / 23

Terry Rozier (PG)

Prob Sat Calf - 11 / 03 / 23

Mark Williams (C)

Out indefinitely Thumb - 09 / 03 / 23

LaMelo Ball (PG)

out for season Ankle - 27 / 02 / 23

P.J. Washington (PF)

Ques Sun Foot - 25 / 02 / 23

Terry Rozier (PG)

Prob Fri Hand - 15 / 02 / 23

Kai Jones (C)

Prob Wed Ankle - 11 / 02 / 23

Svi Mykhailiuk (SG)

Ques Sat Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)

Prob Fri Wrist - 03 / 02 / 23

Toronto

Christian Koloko (C)

Ques Sat Nose - 16 / 03 / 23

Dalano Banton (SF)

Out Wed Thumb - 13 / 03 / 23

Will Barton (SG)

Prob Fri Illness - 08 / 03 / 23

Dalano Banton (SF)

Ques Sat Thumb - 28 / 02 / 23

Christian Koloko (C)

Prob Tues Ankle - 28 / 02 / 23

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Ques Tues Personal - 23 / 02 / 23

Thaddeus Young (PF)

Prob Thurs Knee - 14 / 02 / 23

Precious Achiuwa (PF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 13 / 02 / 23

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Prob Thurs Calf - 12 / 02 / 23

O.G. Anunoby (SF)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 28 / 01 / 23

Injuries

Charlotte

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
James Bouknight (SG)	Ques Thurs	Ankle - 12 / 03 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Bouknight has sat out the previous four contests due to a right ankle sprain, leaving his status for Thursday's tilt with the Pelicans up in the air.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)	Prob Tues	Back - 12 / 03 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Oubre Jr. was held out of the previous contest with back discomfort, but it is likely that he will take the court against the Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Terry Rozier (PG)	Prob Sat	Calf - 11 / 03 / 23	2-1	2-1	+ -
Rozier is dealing with a right calf contusion, but it is likely that he will dress for Saturday's battle with the Jazz.
Mark Williams (C)	Out indefinitely	Thumb - 09 / 03 / 23	3-3	2-4	+ -
Williams is out of action due to a right thumb sprain, and it is unclear how long he will be debilitated.
LaMelo Ball (PG)	out for season	Ankle - 27 / 02 / 23	5-4	2-7	+ -
Ball is sidelined while recovering from surgery to address a fractured right ankle, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
P.J. Washington (PF)	Ques Sun	Foot - 25 / 02 / 23	7-4	2-9	+ -
Washington has missed the last four games with a right foot sprain, and it is unknown if he will partake in Sunday's clash versus the Nets.
Terry Rozier (PG)	Prob Fri	Hand - 15 / 02 / 23	8-4	3-9	+ -
Rozier was held out of the previous game due to a right hand sprain, but it is projected that he will take on the Timberwolves on Friday.
Kai Jones (C)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 11 / 02 / 23	8-7	4-11	+ -
Jones has missed the previous two contests due to a left ankle sprain, but he is likely to suit up against the Spurs on Wednesday.
Svi Mykhailiuk (SG)	Ques Sat	Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23	8-7	4-11	+ -
Mykhailiuk was recently acquired through a trade, and it is unclear if he will dress for Saturday's clash with the Nuggets.
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)	Prob Fri	Wrist - 03 / 02 / 23	9-10	4-15	+ -
Smith is nursing a wrist sprain, but it is not expected to impact his status for Friday's tilt versus the Pistons.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Christian Koloko (C)	Ques Sat	Nose - 16 / 03 / 23	0-0	0-0	+ -
Koloko exited the previous contest with a fractured nose, leaving his status for Saturday's tilt with the Timberwolves cloudy.
Dalano Banton (SF)	Out Wed	Thumb - 13 / 03 / 23	0-1	1-0	+ -
Banton has sat out the last four games due to a left thumb sprain, and he will not be available for Wednesday's battle with the Pacers.
Will Barton (SG)	Prob Fri	Illness - 08 / 03 / 23	1-2	2-1	+ -
Barton has missed the last game due to an illness, but it is expected he will be active on Friday against the Lakers.
Dalano Banton (SF)	Ques Sat	Thumb - 28 / 02 / 23	3-4	4-3	+ -
Banton has missed the previous two contests with a left thumb sprain, and it is not yet confirmed if he will lace up against the Wizards on Saturday.
Christian Koloko (C)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 28 / 02 / 23	3-4	4-3	+ -
Koloko is nursing a left ankle sprain, but it is predicted that he will lace up versus the Bulls on Tuesday.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Ques Tues	Personal - 23 / 02 / 23	5-5	5-5	+ -
VanVleet has missed the last three contests due to a personal matter, and it has yet to be established if he will be available for Tuesday's clash with the Bulls.
Thaddeus Young (PF)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 14 / 02 / 23	5-6	6-5	+ -
Young exited the previous contest with strained left knee, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Pelicans on Thursday.
Precious Achiuwa (PF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 13 / 02 / 23	5-6	6-5	+ -
Achiuwa is nursing a right ankle sprain, but he is expected to suit up versus the Magic on Tuesday.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Prob Thurs	Calf - 12 / 02 / 23	5-7	7-5	+ -
Trent has sat out the last two games with a left calf strain, but it is forecasted that he will face off against the Pelicans on Thursday.
O.G. Anunoby (SF)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 28 / 01 / 23	9-11	11-9	+ -
Anunoby is sidelined with a sprained left wrist, but he is expected to return Thursday versus the Pelicans.