New Orleans Pelicans vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction, NBA Odds
The Toronto Raptors vie for a fourth straight victory at Scotiabank Arena when they open a four-game home stand on Friday night with a visit from the slumping New Orleans Pelicans. The Raptors return home after closing out a disappointing five-game road trip with Wednesday’s humbling 119-94 loss to the LA Clippers, leaving them clinging to sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just a half-game up on Philadelphia. Already eliminated from playoff contention, the Pelicans opened their current three-game road trip with a pair of losses, capped by a crushing 129-108 defeat in Detroit on Thursday night. Overall, the Pelicans have lost three straight and have also dropped six of their past seven road contests.
The Raptors lead the way as 8.5-point home favourites on Friday’s NBA odds, and the Pelicans are listed as +260 underdogs on the NBA moneyline. The total for Sunday’s contest is set at 228.5.
Pelicans vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds
These clubs split a pair of meetings earlier this season, with the home side emerging victorious in each, capped the Pelicans’ 122-111 victory on March 11. With that win, the Pelicans’ snapped a two-game slide versus the Raptors, and have won seven of 11 head-to-head since 2019, including two of five in Toronto. Recent dates between these teams have been low scoring, with the total reaching 120 just once during a 3-0 run for the UNDER. Indeed, the Raptors have struggled offensively at times while averaging just 108.6 points per game over their past five against the Pelicans. That is not great news considering the Raptors’ recent defensive struggles, allowing 121.8 points per game during their current 1-3 SU run. However, the Raptors have fared far better at home, allowing just 105 points per game during their current 3-0 run, and just 108.4 points over their past nine at Scotiabank Arena. The Pelicans defence has been equally porous, allowing 120.3 points per game during their three-game slide. New Orleans has also failed to reach 110 points in four of their past seven, and has seen the UNDER pay out in six of their past eight.
New Orleans Pelicans
Complicating matters for the Pelicans is their struggles when playing in the second half of back-to-back games, compiling a 4-13 SU record this season including six straight defeats on the road. Injuries have also emerged as a major concern down the stretch. Leading scorer Trey Murphy III missed Thursday’s date with the Pistons due to an ankle, leaving his status for Friday uncertain, while veteran guard Dejounte Murray isn’t expected to play as the team manages his return from recent Achilles surgery. Murphy enjoyed his best performance since returning from an injury earlier in the year, dropping 28 points and seven rebounds. Those absences
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors will be without versatile guard Immanuel Quickley for Friday night’s matchup. Quickley has missed the past two games with a foot injury, opening the door for second-year guard Jamal Shead to take on more responsibly, and the 23-year-old has stepped up. While Shead has produced just 7.5 points per game over the past two outings, he has contributed as a playmaker with a14-assist performance in Monday’s 143-127 win in Utah and has averaged 6.4 helpers over his past seven outings, making him worth consideration as a lucrative +390 bet on the NBA player props to record 10+ assists on Friday. While there was little to write home about in Wednesday’s loss to Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers, Scottie Barnes fell just short of a triple double with nine points, eight boards, and 12 assists. Barnes has now tallied double-digit assist totals in each of his past two games and averaged 7.5 boards over his past six games. And with the pelicans struggling at both ends of the court, Barnes is worth a value wager as a +1600 bet to record his third triple-double of the season on Friday.
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