Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction, NBA Odds
The Toronto Raptors look to extend their current home win streak to nine games when they host Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night in NBA betting action at Scotiabank Arena.
The Raptors halted a brief two-game slide by opening their current five-game homestand with Tuesday’s 121-118 win over Portland, maintaining sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference standings, just two games back of Detroit.
The Lakers hit the road for three games after seeing a seven-game win streak end with Monday’s 125-108 loss to Phoenix. However, the Lakers have been a force on the road in the early going of the campaign, winning each of their past three, and eight of 10 overall.
The Raptors lead the way as slim 2.5-point home favourites on Thursday’s NBA odds. The Lakers trail as strong +110 moneyline underdogs and the total is pegged at 228.5.
Lakers vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds
The Lakers swept last season’s two-game series with the Raptors, capped by a decisive 123-103 victory on November 10 and have now topped Toronto in five straight clashes including each of their past three meetings at Scotiabank Arena.
The Lakers offence has turned in steady performance during the club’s current head-to-head win streak, averaging 127.2 points per game. But with the Raptors topping 120 points twice over that stretch, the Lakers have gone just 3-2 against the spread over that stretch.
Los Angeles has also struggled when visiting the Raptors as a road dog, losing outright in six of seven and covering the spread just twice over that stretch. While the Lakers are off to s steady 15-5 start to the season, they have struggled to reward loyal betting fans on the NBA odds, going just 2-3 ATS over their past five games overall and 3-3 ATS in their past six road contests.
The Raptors have not done much better during their current surge on home hardwood, going just 2-4 ATS in their past six, and are a middling 4-4 SU and ATS in their past eight while pegged as home chalk by three or fewer points.
Los Angeles Lakers
With Luka Doncic set to miss Thursday night’s betting matchup for personal reasons, the Lakers will be looking to LeBron James to up his game after another disappointing performance last time out. King James mustered just 10 points, three assists, and no rebounds in Monday’s loss to the Suns, and has averaged just 11.5 points per game over his past two outings.
Overall, James has topped 20 points just once in his five appearances since making a delayed season debut, averaging just 16.5 points, but has regularly put up big numbers against Toronto over the course of his career, averaging 23 points, eight assists, and seven boards in two appearances last season, and is a -130 bet on the NBA player props to record OVER 14.5 rebounds + assists on Thursday night.
Toronto Raptors
Scottie Barnes provided the spark as the Raptors got back into the win column on Tuesday night, racking up a game-high 28 points to goa along with seven boards and seven helpers. Barnes has seen his point totals steadily improve, scoring 24 or more in three of his past four outings but has now failed to record a double-double in two straight games after accomplishing the feat in nine of his previous 15 outings.
Barnes will once again be expected to take the lead on Thursday, with both RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl sidelined. Barrett has been on the shelf with a knee injury since the club’s 119-109 win over Brooklyn on November 23, and his return date remains unclear. With the Raptors scheduled to host Charlotte, Poeltl is enjoying a night off to rest. That likely means a bigger assignment for Gradey Dick, who is coming off his best performance since opening night with 14 points and three rebounds versus the Trail Blazers.
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