Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction, NBA Odds
Toronto is an 8.5-point favourite on the NBA odds with a total of 216.5.
Hornets vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds
We would be surprised if Charlotte tries remotely at all to win another game this season because the Hornets currently hold the third-worst record in the NBA. It’s vital they don’t slip to the fourth-worst as only the three-worst clubs have an equal-best 14.0% chance of winning the lottery and the chance to take Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, a generational prospect who won the Wooden Award as the best player in college basketball.
In theory, it would only benefit Toronto to lose out but in reality, the Raptors are essentially locked into the seventh-worst record in the NBA, which would give the Dinos a 7.5% shot of winning the lottery.
Wednesday’s winner also takes the season series as Charlotte won the first matchup 138-133 at home very early in the season, while Toronto won at Scotiabank Arena, 108-97, on March 28. It was the Raptors’ eighth straight home win in the series. Jakob Poeltl is a rare Toronto player who has played in both games and is averaging 22.0 points and 14.0 rebounds. Rookie guard Jamal Shead averages 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in the two. Few key Hornets have played in both games, but Miles Bridges has and is averaging 9.0 points and 8.5 rebounds.
Toronto is 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings, and the over-under is 6-4.
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte is in pure tank mode, having shut down star guard LaMelo Ball for the season and losing a fourth straight game by double digits Tuesday, 124-100 at home vs. Memphis. Because the Hornets played Tuesday, they don’t have to put out a Wednesday injury report until later than other clubs, so it’s hard to say who might sit or not.
The only two regulars playing for the most part on a nightly basis are forward Miles Bridges (14 points and six rebounds on Tuesday) and centre Mark Williams (eight points, seven rebounds), and we’d guess they don’t play in the second of a B2B.
Guard KJ Simpson might be looking at a suspension after a Flagrant-2 foul got him ejected against the Grizzlies. Charlotte doesn’t have any Canadian players. It is 7-31 SU and 17-20-1 ATS on the road this season.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak Sunday with a 120-109 victory in Brooklyn as a 2.5-point underdog and win the season series. Both teams rested numerous starters, but one would think the Dinos would play every healthy guy tonight in the home finale – they are 17-23 at Scotiabank Arena. Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick are out, though, with Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl questionable.
RJ Barrett was a rare regular to start Sunday but was 4-for-16 for 13 points. Rookie Jonathan Mogbo tied his career highs with 17 points and 11 rebounds and set one with seven assists. Mogbo became the third Raptors rookie and the fourth player to record their first-ever double-double this season, joining Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead and Jared Rhoden. Shead had a career-high 12 assists Sunday and has become the second Toronto rookie in history to reach 300 total assists in his first season along with Damon Stoudamire.
The Raptors had a season-high 16 steals Sunday and forced 23 Brooklyn turnovers, which Toronto turned into 22 points. The team also shot exactly 50 per cent from the floor to improve to 10-8 this season when hitting at least half its shots.
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