The Los Angeles Clippers have been a very pleasant surprise so far this season and they’ll now host Toronto on Tuesday. It’s the second of a back-to-back for the Clips and the front end of one for the Raptors.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The next time the Clippers host Toronto, could Kawhi Leonard be wearing a Clips uniform? The Raptors traded for Leonard this summer knowing full well his wish to play in his hometown of Los Angeles when he hits free agency. Reports are that Leonard prefers the Clippers over the Lakers, which is unusual. Leonard apparently doesn’t want to play in the shadow of LeBron James with the Lakers. The Raptors are hoping their success will convince Leonard to stick around.

First of two meetings between these teams, with the Raptors hosting the Clippers on Super Bowl Sunday. The Clippers swept Toronto last year. The game in Toronto was a 117-106 upset as Lou Williams had 26 points, 18 in the fourth quarter when L.A. outscored the Raptors 37-26. Williams is one of the top reserves in the NBA and won the Sixth Man of the Year Award a season ago. Williams also won it in 2015 with the Raptors.

The game in Los Angeles was a 96-91 Clippers victory. Williams had 17 in that one as the Clippers reserves outscored their Raptors counterparts 50-17. That was the second of a back-to-back for Toronto.

Toronto is 10-12 all-time at the Clippers. The underdog is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings overall.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors lost for the third time in four games Sunday, 104-99 against the Bucks – who are now 2-0 vs. Toronto. Malcolm Brogdon hit the tying and go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute-plus. Kyle Lowry had his worst game of the season in shooting 0-for-5 and going scoreless in 34 minutes. Perhaps Lowry isn’t fully healthy as he’s just 4-for-28 from the field in the past four games for a combined 15 points. Serge Ibaka led with 22 points but attempted a whopping 11 three-pointers (career high).

Toronto fell to 10-6 this year against teams with winning records. It is 1-5 ATS in its past six games overall. This is the front end of a back-to-back for Toronto, so that means Leonard may sit out considering he hasn’t yet played both ends of a B2B yet. Leonard surely wants to play in his hometown, but the last meeting of the regular season with Golden State is Wednesday and he’ll want to play there too. Perhaps he finally plays both ends.

LA Clippers

After star centre DeAndre Jordan opted out of his contract this summer and signed with Dallas, most expected the Clippers to be a below-.500 team this season, but they are near the top of the Western Conference. While L.A. lacks star power – it traded franchise player Blake Griffin to Detroit last year – it is a very deep team. Coach Doc Rivers doesn’t hesitate going 11 deep as that many players average at least 15 minutes per night. One of them, Luc Mbah a Moute, is out with a knee injury.

Led by Williams and Montrezl Harrell, the Clippers reserves lead the NBA in scoring. Tuesday is the second of a back-to-back as Los Angeles won in Phoenix on Monday, 123-119 in OT. Tobias Harris led with 33 points. L.A. is 5-1 ATS in its past six in the second of a back-to-back.

Injuries

Toronto

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19

Jeremy Lin (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19

Serge Ibaka (C)

Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19

L.A. Clippers

JaMychal Green (PF)

Prob Wed Personal - 07 / 04 / 19

Danilo Gallinari (SF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 06 / 04 / 19

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Prob Wed Hip - 02 / 04 / 19

Danilo Gallinari (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 29 / 03 / 19

Lou Williams (SG)

Out Thurs Rest - 28 / 03 / 19

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Prob Sat Hip - 27 / 03 / 19

Landry Shamet (PG)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 24 / 03 / 19

Danilo Gallinari (SF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 13 / 03 / 19

Danilo Gallinari (SF)

Out Tues Rest - 12 / 03 / 19

JaMychal Green (PF)

Prob Sat Knee - 07 / 02 / 19

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Mon	Face - 08 / 06 / 19	2-0	1-2	+ -
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Thurs	Personal - 15 / 05 / 19	7-4	6-6	+ -
McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Prob Sun	Calf - 04 / 05 / 19	9-6	8-8	+ -
Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 02 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 01 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Ques Mon	Back - 18 / 04 / 19	13-8	9-13	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 09 / 04 / 19	15-9	10-15	+ -
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19	15-10	10-15-1	+ -
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19	18-10	12-16-1	+ -
Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Fri	Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19	19-10	12-17-1	+ -
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.

L.A. Clippers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
JaMychal Green (PF)	Prob Wed	Personal - 07 / 04 / 19	3-5	5-3	+ -
Green was held out of the last game due to a personal matter but it is expected he will be in Wednesday's lineup versus the Jazz.
Danilo Gallinari (SF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 19	3-6	6-3	+ -
Gallinari sat out the previous game with soreness in his left ankle but will take the court against the Jazz on Wednesday.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Prob Wed	Hip - 02 / 04 / 19	4-6	6-4	+ -
Beverley has missed the past three games with a right hip pointer but it is likely he will return Wednesday against the Jazz.
Danilo Gallinari (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 29 / 03 / 19	5-6	8-4	+ -
Gallinari missed the last game with a sore ankle but is expected to be available Sunday against the Grizzlies.
Lou Williams (SG)	Out Thurs	Rest - 28 / 03 / 19	6-6	9-4	+ -
Williams will not play against the Bucks on Thursday as he is to be rested.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 27 / 03 / 19	6-6	9-4	+ -
Beverley was absent from the lineup during the last game due to a right hip pointer but is likely to play against the Cavaliers on Saturday.
Landry Shamet (PG)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 24 / 03 / 19	7-7	10-5	+ -
Shamet was absent from the lineup during the previous game due to a left ankle impingement but is expected to suit up for Thursday's contest against the Bucks.
Danilo Gallinari (SF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 13 / 03 / 19	9-10	14-6	+ -
Gallinari missed the previous game with a minor ankle sprain but is expected to return to the court for Friday's contest versus the Bulls.
Danilo Gallinari (SF)	Out Tues	Rest - 12 / 03 / 19	10-10	14-7	+ -
Gallinari will not suit up against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
JaMychal Green (PF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 07 / 02 / 19	19-13	21-12	+ -
Green missed his second-straight game with a sore left knee although he will likely be available against the Celtics on Saturday.

Raptors vs. Clippers Prediction