The Toronto Raptors look to complete the season sweep of the Sacramento Kings on Friday night as the Kings make their first-ever visit to Tampa, Fla. The Dinos are favoured on the NBA odds.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

With the NBA shortening the regular-season schedule to 72 games per team, this year – and some clubs are clearly going to struggle to get that many games in – Eastern Conference teams will not play all West teams in a home-and-home, as they usually would. The Kings and Raptors, however, will get two games in against each other, barring a postponement on Friday.

On Jan. 8 in Sacramento, the Raptors were 1-point favourites, eventually winning 144-123, and although it was Toronto’s lone victory on their four-game West Coast trip, the Dinos set a franchise regular-season record in points scored. Fred VanVleet scored 34 points, Chris Boucher had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Norman Powell put up 22 points, and Terence Davis chipped in 18 points, while Kyle Lowry missed the game for personal reasons. The Raptors scored at least 33 points in every quarter of the game and shot a sizzling 58.2 per cent overall and 51.3 per cent from deep.

Sacramento was no slouch offensively, either, shooting 56.8 per cent overall against the Raptors, but the Kings were destroyed on the boards. De’Aaron Fox scored a team-high 23 points, despite the Kings being outscored by 24 in the second half.

Toronto is 7-3 in the past 10 meetings, but the teams have split those games against the spread, at 4-4-2.

Sacramento Kings

Sacramento had Sunday and Monday games in Memphis postponed due to COVID issues on the Grizzlies, but the Kings were back in action on Wednesday, winning 121-107 in Orlando for their second straight victory (Sacramento has yet to win three in a row this year). Buddy Hield is having a very disappointing season, averaging just 15.8 points per game on 38.6 per cent shooting, but he blew up for a season-high 29 points versus the Magic, going 10-for-17 from the field with seven three-pointers. Fox had 16 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Backup centre Hassan Whiteside was in question with a hip injury, but did end up playing, finishing with nine points and six rebounds in 16 minutes. Reserve power forward Nemanja Bjelica missed the Orlando game with a back injury. Toronto native Cory Joseph, a reserve guard with the Kings, finished with three points in 13 minutes on Wednesday. The Kings have covered in three straight games versus the Eastern Conference.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto could have used OG Anunoby‘s defence against Giannis Antetokounmpo, in their 115-108 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday.  Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists. The left calf strain that kept Anunoby out on Wednesday, also forced him to miss the first game of the season. Anunoby has scored at least 10 points in a career-long nine consecutive games, but consider him questionable for Friday.

Pascal Siakam was a game-time call against the Bucks, but did end up returning to the lineup after a two-game injury absence, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds. Powell led the Raptors with 26 points, the fourth straight 20-plus game for Powell, while VanVleet was scoreless in the first half, ultimately finishing with 10 points and 10 assists. Boucher played just 13 minutes, while Aron Baynes logged 23. Boucher hadn’t played fewer than 20 minutes since Jan. 6, but it was just for matchup reasons on Wednesday. Toronto is 5-5 ATS in its past 10 vs. the Western Conference.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Kings vs. Raptors?

• Regular Season

Kings Team Leaders

SAC

Points	De'Aaron Fox 25.19
Assists	De'Aaron Fox 7.19
Rebounds	Richaun Holmes 8.26
FG%	Damian Jones 65.7
Steals	Delon Wright 1.59
Blocks	Richaun Holmes 1.57

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 21.36
Assists	Kyle Lowry 7.35
Rebounds	Khem Birch 7.58
FG%	Patrick McCaw 100
Steals	Fred VanVleet 1.67
Blocks	Chris Boucher 1.85

• Regular Season

Raptors Team Leaders

SAC

Points	De'Aaron Fox 25.19
Assists	De'Aaron Fox 7.19
Rebounds	Richaun Holmes 8.26
FG%	Damian Jones 65.7
Steals	Delon Wright 1.59
Blocks	Richaun Holmes 1.57

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 21.36
Assists	Kyle Lowry 7.35
Rebounds	Khem Birch 7.58
FG%	Patrick McCaw 100
Steals	Fred VanVleet 1.67
Blocks	Chris Boucher 1.85

Injuries

Sacramento

Justin James (SG)

Out Sun Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21

Hassan Whiteside (C)

Ques Sun Back - 14 / 05 / 21

Richaun Holmes (PF)

Out Sun Knee - 13 / 05 / 21

Buddy Hield (SG)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Marvin Bagley III (PF)

Out Sun Leg - 11 / 05 / 21

De'Aaron Fox (PG)

Out indefinitely Illness - 09 / 05 / 21

Buddy Hield (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 09 / 05 / 21

Tyrese Haliburton (PG)

out for season Knee - 03 / 05 / 21

Chimezie Metu (PF)

Prob Fri Back - 01 / 05 / 21

Harrison Barnes (SF)

Out indefinitely Hip - 27 / 04 / 21

Toronto

Kyle Lowry (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 15 / 05 / 21

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 15 / 05 / 21

Kyle Lowry (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Jalen Harris (PG)

Doub Fri Foot - 14 / 05 / 21

Yuta Watanabe (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 13 / 05 / 21

Chris Boucher (PF)

Ques Fri Rest - 12 / 05 / 21

Kyle Lowry (PG)

Out Thurs Rest - 12 / 05 / 21

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Out Thurs Rest - 12 / 05 / 21

Kyle Lowry (PG)

Out Tues Rest - 10 / 05 / 21

Injuries

Sacramento

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Justin James (SG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 15 / 05 / 21	2-0	0-2	+ -
James is hampered by a right ankle sprain, and he will not dress against the Jazz on Sunday.
Hassan Whiteside (C)	Ques Sun	Back - 14 / 05 / 21	2-0	0-2	+ -
Whiteside was absent from the lineup during the previous game with a lower-back injury, and it is undetermined if he will line up against the Jazz on Sunday.
Richaun Holmes (PF)	Out Sun	Knee - 13 / 05 / 21	3-0	1-2	+ -
Holmes was held out of the last game with right knee soreness, and he will not be available against the Jazz on Sunday.
Buddy Hield (SG)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	4-0	1-3	+ -
Hield is hampered by a left ankle sprain, but he is projected to line up against the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Marvin Bagley III (PF)	Out Sun	Leg - 11 / 05 / 21	4-0	1-3	+ -
Bagley III has missed the previous three contests with a leg injury, and he will not partake in Sunday's matchup versus the Jazz.
De'Aaron Fox (PG)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 09 / 05 / 21	4-1	1-4	+ -
Fox is idle while going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Buddy Hield (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 09 / 05 / 21	4-1	1-4	+ -
Hield is hampered by a left ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will be in the lineup against the Thunder on Sunday.
Tyrese Haliburton (PG)	out for season	Knee - 03 / 05 / 21	6-2	1-7	+ -
Haliburton is expected to miss the remainder of the 2020-21 season with a hyperextended left knee.
Chimezie Metu (PF)	Prob Fri	Back - 01 / 05 / 21	7-3	2-8	+ -
Metu has sat out the last three games with lower-back soreness, but it is projected that he will be available for Friday's contest versus the Spurs.
Harrison Barnes (SF)	Out indefinitely	Hip - 27 / 04 / 21	9-3	2-10	+ -
Barnes is out of commission with left hip tightness, and there is no timetable for return.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kyle Lowry (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 15 / 05 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Sunday's showdown with the Pacers as he will receive a day of rest.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 15 / 05 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
VanVleet will not line up against the Pacers on Sunday as he will be given a day of rest.
Kyle Lowry (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Friday's showdown with the Mavericks as he will receive a day of rest.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
VanVleet will not line up against the Mavericks on Friday as he will be given a day of rest.
Jalen Harris (PG)	Doub Fri	Foot - 14 / 05 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Harris is nursing a foot injury, and he is not expected to dress for Friday's tilt with the Mavericks.
Yuta Watanabe (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 13 / 05 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Watanabe was held out of the previous game with a foot injury, and it is undetermined if he will face the Pacers on Sunday.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Ques Fri	Rest - 12 / 05 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Boucher missed the last game due to a left knee injury, and it is unknown if he will participate in Friday's contest with the Mavericks.
Kyle Lowry (PG)	Out Thurs	Rest - 12 / 05 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Lowry will be absent from the starting lineup for Thursday's showdown with the Bulls as he will receive a day of rest.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Out Thurs	Rest - 12 / 05 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
VanVleet will not line up against the Bulls on Thursday as he will be given a day of rest.
Kyle Lowry (PG)	Out Tues	Rest - 10 / 05 / 21	1-3	1-3	+ -
Lowry will not be in the lineup against the Clippers on Tuesday, as he will be given a day of rest.