Toronto Raptors vs. Charlotte Hornets Prediction, NBA Odds
It’s a game the Raptors really should not lose on Saturday night but also has some of the makings of a major trap in the front of a back-to-back as they visit the struggling Charlotte Hornets. Toronto is an 8.5-point favourite on the NBA odds with a total of 228.5.
Raptors vs. Hornets NBA Betting Odds
Every good NBA team has at least a few “hiccup” games per season. The Toronto Raptors can now be called a good NBA team but better be on upset alert tonight in Charlotte. The Hornets are massively struggling again, though, and now there’s talk that star point guard LaMelo Ball would be fine with a trade out. So keep that in mind closer to the trade deadline.
It would not be too difficult for the Raptors guys to overlook the Hornets a bit and be more focused on Sunday night’s trip to the “World’s Most Famous Arena” in Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in a potential playoff preview. There probably will be a bigger crowd in Charlotte as well because of the American Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Saturday marks the second of four regular-season meetings between the clubs. On Nov. 17, the Raptors were 7.5-point home favourites (total 240) and escaped, 110-108, as RJ Barrett scored the tiebreaking basket with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Brandon Ingram (not known for his defence) and Scottie Barnes (known for his defence) both had crucial blocked shots late.
That was the Dinos’ 10th straight home victory in the series, and they have taken the past three overall but lost their most recent trip to Charlotte early last season. Toronto is 10-5 ATS in the past 15 meetings. The over is 4-1 in the past five in Charlotte (and I do like the over here).
Toronto Raptors
Still without the injured R.J. Barrett, who won’t be back anytime real soon, the Dinos won a ninth straight game Wednesday, 97-95 over Indiana to complete a 4-0 homestand. Brandon Ingram led the way with 26 points, including the game-winner from 15 feet with 0.6 seconds remaining. Ingram has scored at least 20 in five of his past six while averaging a team-high 25.0 points in that run. That trade with the Pelicans looks better and better by the day. Scottie Barnes finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds for his team-leading ninth double-double of the year.
With that win and Milwaukee’s loss to Miami, Toronto clinched a top-two seed and homecourt in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Gradey Dick left with a head injury but is not on the injury report for tonight. The nine-game run is the second-longest active streak in the NBA and tied for the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. Toronto is 13-2 against the Eastern Conference. The Dinos are 10-4 ATS in their past 14 overall.
Charlotte Hornets
Unfortunately in the modern-day NBA some guys just don’t play the second of a back-to-back. It’s utterly ridiculous for dudes making tens of millions of dollars. I say that because the Hornets played on Friday, upsetting Chicago, 123-116, to snap a seven-game skid. Former No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller is recently back from long-term injury and led with 27 points. I rather doubt he plays tonight because of that injury history. Ditto for star guard LaMelo Ball, who had 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. But because the Hornets did play Friday, we won’t likely know on those guys until mid-afternoon.
I’ll be truly stunned if Miller plays and moderately so if Ball does. But this year’s No. 4 overall pick, Kon Knueppel, should play. The Hornets have made a lot of mistakes in recent years, but they got that one right. The former Duke star all rookies in total points, field goals, 3-point per centage and made 3-pointers. The Hornets are 4-2 ATS in their past six as dogs
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