Dwane Casey's new-look Raptors offence is filling up the hoop. The Raptors are big favourites at home again today.
Sunday’s game will be the Raptors’ second last at the ACC before Christmas. Toronto fans hope their team can give them an early present with a blowout victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 17 Dec 5:12am | SAC | -12.5 -110 | O +207 -110 |
| Closing 17 Dec 7:02pm | SAC | -12 -110 | O +203 -110 |
Toronto improved to 19-8 straight up and 15-12 against the spread after its 33-point win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. It was the Raptors’ 10th win in 11 home games this season. Sacramento is coming off a 23-point loss at Minnesota to the Timberwolves – which was only its third ATS loss in the last 10 games. The Kings are among the worst teams in the Western Conference with just nine wins in 28 games, but they own a respectable 12-13-3 mark against the spread.
The Raps won and covered as 8.5-point favourites at Sacramento last week. The Kings have been held under 100 points in four of their last five games.
Sacramento Kings
There isn’t much to be excited about these days in Sacramento for basketball fans. The team is short of quality players but many hoop heads are intrigued by the potential of rookie point guard De’Aaron Fox. His jump shot needs a lot of work but he’s got John Wall-level speed.
Fox won’t play, unfortunately, on Sunday against the Raptors because of a bruised right high. He leads the team in assists at 3.8 per game and shares the starting backcourt responsibilities with veteran George Hill. The Kings will probably slide Garrett Temple from wing to guard and start Buddy Hield in place of Fox. That will most likely take some bit out of the Kings’ league-leading bench scoring.
Toronto Raptors
NBA head coaches like to use the regular season as science lab where they can perform experiments to familiarize themselves with their players. The thinking goes – there are 82 games in the season, best to figure out as much as possible about the team and lineup combinations before the start of the playoffs.
It’s safe to say Raptors bench boss Dwane Casey already knows his best starting lineup. The Raps current starting five of Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, OG Anunoby, Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas is outscoring the opposition by 20.9 points per 100 possessions in 232 minutes played together.
Injuries
Frank Mason (PG)
Skal Labissiere (PF)
Zach Randolph (PF)
Garrett Temple (SF)
Willie Cauley-Stein (C)
Vince Carter (SG)
Kosta Koufos (C)
De'Aaron Fox (PG)
George Hill (PG)
Malachi Richardson (SG)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
OG Anunoby (SF)
Pascal Siakam (PF)
Serge Ibaka (PF)
Norman Powell (SF)
Lucas Nogueira (C)
Jonas Valanciunas (C)
CJ Miles (SF)
Delon Wright (PG)
Nigel Hayes (SF)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Mason (PG) | Out Wed | Heel - 09 / 04 / 18 | 1-1 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Mason missed the last game with a slight tear to the plantar fascia in his left heel and will not play Wednesday against the Rockets. |
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| Skal Labissiere (PF) | Out Wed | Ankle - 01 / 04 / 18 | 3-3 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Labissiere has missed the previous three games due to a left ankle injury and will not return against the Rockets on Wednesday. |
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| Zach Randolph (PF) | Out indefinitely | Personal - 21 / 03 / 18 | 4-6 | 1-9 | + - |
|
Randolph has been held out of action due to a personal matter and when he will return to the lineup. |
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| Garrett Temple (SF) | out for season | Ankle - 21 / 03 / 18 | 4-6 | 1-9 | + - |
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Temple has been held out of action with an ankle injury and will miss the remainder of the season. |
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| Willie Cauley-Stein (C) | Prob Mon | Finger - 18 / 03 / 18 | 6-6 | 2-10 | + - |
|
Cauley-Stein suffered a finger injury in the last game but is expected to play on Monday against the Pistons. |
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| Vince Carter (SG) | day-to-day | Personal - 17 / 03 / 18 | 7-6 | 3-10 | + - |
|
Carter missed the last game due to the death of his grandmother but is expected to rejoin the team Monday against the Jazz. |
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| Kosta Koufos (C) | Ques Sat | Illness - 22 / 02 / 18 | 14-11 | 8-16-1 | + - |
|
Koufos was absent form the lineup during the previous game due to an illness and it is undetermined if he will be available against the Lakers on Saturday. |
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| De'Aaron Fox (PG) | Prob Sat | Eye - 14 / 02 / 18 | 16-11 | 10-16-1 | + - |
|
Fox sat out the last game with a case of conjunctivitis but is expected to take part in Saturday's tilt against the Lakers. |
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| George Hill (PG) | Prob Sun | Acquired - 08 / 02 / 18 | 17-12 | 11-17-1 | + - |
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Hill is expected to suit up Sunday against the Celtics after being acquired via trade. |
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| Malachi Richardson (SG) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 08 / 02 / 18 | 17-12 | 11-17-1 | + - |
|
Richardson has missed his past five games due to a sprained left ankle and it is unknown if he take part in Sunday's contest against the Hornets. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Prob Thurs | Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers. |
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| OG Anunoby (SF) | Prob Wed | Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18 | 3-3 | 2-4 | + - |
|
Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards. |
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| Pascal Siakam (PF) | Prob Sun | Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18 | 3-4 | 3-4 | + - |
|
Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip. |
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| Serge Ibaka (PF) | Prob Sat | Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18 | 5-5 | 6-4 | + - |
|
Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game. |
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| Norman Powell (SF) | Ques Mon | Knee - 09 / 04 / 18 | 6-5 | 7-5 | + - |
|
Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons. |
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| Lucas Nogueira (C) | Ques Sat | Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18 | 7-5 | 7-6 | + - |
|
Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Jonas Valanciunas (C) | Out Sun | Rest - 08 / 04 / 18 | 7-5 | 7-6 | + - |
|
Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic. |
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| CJ Miles (SF) | Prob Sun | Illness - 21 / 03 / 18 | 8-12 | 11-10 | + - |
|
Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday. |
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| Delon Wright (PG) | Doub Sun | Toe - 06 / 03 / 18 | 13-16 | 15-15 | + - |
|
Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks. |
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| Nigel Hayes (SF) | Ques Fri | Personal - 06 / 03 / 18 | 13-16 | 15-15 | + - |
|
Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets. |
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Kings vs. Raptors Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 17 Dec 5:12am SAC -12.5 -110 O +207 -110 Closing 17 Dec 7:02pm SAC -12 -110 O +203 -110 -
Injuries
Frank Mason (PG)
Out Wed Heel - 09 / 04 / 18Skal Labissiere (PF)
Out Wed Ankle - 01 / 04 / 18Zach Randolph (PF)
Out indefinitely Personal - 21 / 03 / 18Garrett Temple (SF)
out for season Ankle - 21 / 03 / 18Willie Cauley-Stein (C)
Prob Mon Finger - 18 / 03 / 18Vince Carter (SG)
day-to-day Personal - 17 / 03 / 18Kosta Koufos (C)
Ques Sat Illness - 22 / 02 / 18De'Aaron Fox (PG)
Prob Sat Eye - 14 / 02 / 18George Hill (PG)
Prob Sun Acquired - 08 / 02 / 18Malachi Richardson (SG)
Ques Sun Ankle - 08 / 02 / 18Fred VanVleet (PG)
Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18OG Anunoby (SF)
Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18Pascal Siakam (PF)
Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18Serge Ibaka (PF)
Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18Norman Powell (SF)
Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18Lucas Nogueira (C)
Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18Jonas Valanciunas (C)
Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18CJ Miles (SF)
Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18Delon Wright (PG)
Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18Nigel Hayes (SF)
Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Frank Mason (PG) Out Wed Heel - 09 / 04 / 18 1-1 0-2 + - Mason missed the last game with a slight tear to the plantar fascia in his left heel and will not play Wednesday against the Rockets.
Skal Labissiere (PF) Out Wed Ankle - 01 / 04 / 18 3-3 1-5 + - Labissiere has missed the previous three games due to a left ankle injury and will not return against the Rockets on Wednesday.
Zach Randolph (PF) Out indefinitely Personal - 21 / 03 / 18 4-6 1-9 + - Randolph has been held out of action due to a personal matter and when he will return to the lineup.
Garrett Temple (SF) out for season Ankle - 21 / 03 / 18 4-6 1-9 + - Temple has been held out of action with an ankle injury and will miss the remainder of the season.
Willie Cauley-Stein (C) Prob Mon Finger - 18 / 03 / 18 6-6 2-10 + - Cauley-Stein suffered a finger injury in the last game but is expected to play on Monday against the Pistons.
Vince Carter (SG) day-to-day Personal - 17 / 03 / 18 7-6 3-10 + - Carter missed the last game due to the death of his grandmother but is expected to rejoin the team Monday against the Jazz.
Kosta Koufos (C) Ques Sat Illness - 22 / 02 / 18 14-11 8-16-1 + - Koufos was absent form the lineup during the previous game due to an illness and it is undetermined if he will be available against the Lakers on Saturday.
De'Aaron Fox (PG) Prob Sat Eye - 14 / 02 / 18 16-11 10-16-1 + - Fox sat out the last game with a case of conjunctivitis but is expected to take part in Saturday's tilt against the Lakers.
George Hill (PG) Prob Sun Acquired - 08 / 02 / 18 17-12 11-17-1 + - Hill is expected to suit up Sunday against the Celtics after being acquired via trade.
Malachi Richardson (SG) Ques Sun Ankle - 08 / 02 / 18 17-12 11-17-1 + - Richardson has missed his past five games due to a sprained left ankle and it is unknown if he take part in Sunday's contest against the Hornets.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Fred VanVleet (PG) Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers.
OG Anunoby (SF) Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18 3-3 2-4 + - Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.
Pascal Siakam (PF) Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18 3-4 3-4 + - Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip.
Serge Ibaka (PF) Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18 5-5 6-4 + - Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game.
Norman Powell (SF) Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18 6-5 7-5 + - Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons.
Lucas Nogueira (C) Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18 7-5 7-6 + - Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jonas Valanciunas (C) Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18 7-5 7-6 + - Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic.
CJ Miles (SF) Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18 8-12 11-10 + - Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday.
Delon Wright (PG) Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18 13-16 15-15 + - Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks.
Nigel Hayes (SF) Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18 13-16 15-15 + - Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets.