Pelicans vs. Raptors Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
The most talented player in the NBA? A case can be made for New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, and he brings his Pelicans to Toronto for their only visit of the season on Monday.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
If you were to poll the NBA’s 30 GMs which player they would build their franchise around right now, the guy to receive the most votes probably would be the Pelicans’ Davis. He finished in the Top 3 of the voting last season both for MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Obviously, LeBron James is in the conversation of being the greatest player ever (sorry, that’s MJ), but LeBron is also going to be 34 next month. Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, is only 25.
The other 29 teams already are game-planning a run at Davis if he hits unrestricted free agency after the 2020-21 season. Some believe he will leave New Orleans if the Pelicans aren’t competing for championships. They are solid but not winning an NBA title this season.
Toronto swept New Orleans last year with both games lighting up the scoreboard. Davis averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals. Jrue Holiday put up 26.0 points and 8.0 assists per game. Kyle Lowry averaged 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. Jonas Valanciunas checked in at 12.0 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Overall, Toronto has won six consecutive games in the series, three straight at home. It’s 10-7 all-time at home vs. New Orleans. The Raptors are 12-4-1 ATS in the previous 17 meetings.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have been streaky bunch as they opened 4-0, lost the next six and now have won back-to-back games to get to .500. They are off a 119-99 home blowout over Phoenix on Saturday. Davis had 26 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and two blocks. He did appear to tweak his ankle but as of now is expected to play.
Worth monitoring after the team’s shootaround Monday morning, however. Two other Pelicans, backup point guard Elfrid Payton and forward Nikola Mirotic, are questionable with injuries. Payton has missed the past seven and Mirotic was out Saturday so new Pelican Julius Randle, the former Laker, got the start and had 22 points and 15 rebounds. New Orleans is 2-5 ATS in its past seven against Eastern Conference teams.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto continues to hum along with the NBA’s best record and Nick Nurse is the first coach in the league to win 12 of his first 13 games since Lawrence Frank did that in 2004 with the Nets. Frank was an in-season replacement for the fired Byron Scott.
Should we go ahead and give the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award to Pascal Siakam? He had a career-high 23 points in Saturday’s 128-112 win over the Knicks. He’s averaging 13.3 points and shooting 63.4 per cent (fifth in league) from the field. No Raptor has ever won that award. Siakam has scored in double figures a career-best eight straight games. Danny Green made his 1,000th career three-pointer in Saturday’s win. He’s the 103rd player in history to reach that mark. The retired Ray Allen is the all-time leader with 2,973 but he’ll be passed by Stephen Curry eventually. Toronto is 3-7 ATS in its past 10 vs. the Western Conference.
