Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction, NBA Odds
It could be another trap game for the Raptors on Friday night in the second of a back-to-back as they host the Charlotte Hornets, who recently pulled off a major upset in the series. Toronto is a 7.5-point favourite this time on the NBA odds with a total of 229.5.
Hornets vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds
This game is in a tricky spot for Toronto after hosting LeBron James (but no Luka Doncic) and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday in a wild game and then with two much bigger home games up next after the Hornets as Toronto is in Boston on Sunday afternoon and New York on Tuesday in an NBA Cup quarterfinals matchup.
The Raptors were in a similarly tricky spot last Saturday when they were stunned in Charlotte, 118-111 in OT, to see a nine-game winning streak snapped. Miles Bridges scored 10 of his 35 points in overtime and the Hornets overcame a 17-point first-half deficit. Good-looking Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel had 20 points, including the tying 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in regulation. Charlotte didn’t even have star LaMelo Ball for most of the fourth quarter and all of OT due to a minutes restriction. Scottie Barnes had 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Raptors.
Friday marks the third of four meetings with Toronto back in Charlotte on Jan. 7. The Raptors beat the visiting Hornets, 110-108, on Nov. 17 so maybe this is just a bad matchup overall for the Dinos for some reason. They are still 7-3 SU in the past 10 meetings and 5-5 ATS.
Charlotte Hornets
The wildly inconsistent Hornets have followed two home upset wins, including vs. Toronto, with back-to-back double-digit road losses following a 119-104 defeat at the Knicks on Wednesday. Charlotte fell to 1-10 on the road and dropped its ninth straight away. New York never trailed and held the Hornets to just 12 first-quarter points, a season low for the Hornets. They never dug out of that hole, really. LaMelo Ball was about the only Charlotte player to show up with 34 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. The Hornets were without a few injured guys led by Brandon Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He just can’t stay healthy. Second-round rookie centre Ryan Kalkbrenner, a nice surprise, and veteran guard Collin Sexton both were injured during the game. Charlotte has dropped 10 straight games in Toronto (includes two in Tampa during the 2020-21 season), its longest active head-to-head road losing streak against any Eastern Conference team.
Toronto Raptors
Unfortunately, in the second of a back-to-back we have no idea who might play, and the Raptors might be so deflated after the last-second loss Thursday vs. the Lakers – although they did end LeBron James’ record streak of 1,297-games with at least 10 points. Maybe that showed the Dinos are possibly frauds as L.A. was without Luka Doncic; centre Jakob Poeltl didn’t play but should here. That professional athletes making millions of dollars can’t play twice in 24 hours is absurd. R.J. Barrett remains out with a legit injury. I would maybe expect Brandon Ingram to perhaps sit here. He leads the team in scoring at 21.4 PPG. Welcome to the modern-day NBA. Toronto is 0-5 ATS in its past five.
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