For the second time in less than a year, the Toronto Raptors pulled off a blockbuster trade to reshape their roster. Newly acquired centre Marc Gasol will be with the Raptors on Saturday when they face the stripped down New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Toronto needed a halftime wake-up call on Thursday night in Atlanta. The Raptors outscored the Hawks by 26 in the second half and came away with a win and cover. The club is now 3-0 straight up and against the spread in its last three games.

Toronto finds itself as a road favourite again on Saturday night against the Knicks. The Raptors are just 5-11-1 ATS when giving points away from the ACC.

New York is on a 15-game winless streak and is just 2-28 straight up in its last 30 games overall. The numbers aren’t much better when it comes to the spread. The Knicks are 0-5 ATS in their last five contests.

Points are hard to come by for New York. The team has surpassed the century mark just once in its last eight games. It should come as no surprise then that the Under is 8-1 in the Knicks’ last nine matchups.

Toronto Raptors

Masai Ujiri has big plans for his team this spring. The Raptors president added another big-man player to his roster when he convinced the Memphis Grizzlies to send him Marc Gasol for two bench players and a second round draft pick.

Gasol is a former Defensive Player of the Year winner and a three-time NBA All-Star, but he’s no spring chicken. He’s 34 and is having an up-and-down season in his 10th year in the league.

Head coach Nick Nurse will have to make a decision whether to stick with his regular starting lineup or bench Serge Ibaka in favour of Gasol. Either decision is sure to be an unpopular move for the player heading to the bench.

Gasol will be with the team on Saturday but it’s unclear if he will play. Kawhi Leonard is also questionable to play tonight. The All-Star small forward sat out Thursday against the Hawks because of a sore back and is iffy to play against the Knicks.

New York Knicks

The Knicks aren’t interested in winning games right now. The Kristaps Porzingis trade opened up two maximum salary slots with the goal of bringing in two major free agents this offseason. New York has its own first round draft pick this year, and would like nothing better than to win the draft lottery and bring Zion Williamson to the Big Apple this fall.

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

New York

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 04 / 19

Mario Hezonja (SF)

Prob Wed Illness - 09 / 04 / 19

Lance Thomas (SF)

Prob Wed Personal - 08 / 04 / 19

Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)

out for season Shoulder - 05 / 04 / 19

DeAndre Jordan (C)

Doub Wed Rest - 03 / 04 / 19

Isaiah Hicks (PF)

Prob Tues Hip - 02 / 04 / 19

Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 01 / 04 / 19

Frank Ntilikina (PG)

out for season Groin - 24 / 03 / 19

Allonzo Trier (SG)

Out Wed Calf - 20 / 03 / 19

Noah Vonleh (PF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 15 / 03 / 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.

New York

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 10 / 04 / 19	1-0	0-1	+ -
Smith Jr. is dealing with a sore left knee but is projected to play against the Pistons on Wednesday.
Mario Hezonja (SF)	Prob Wed	Illness - 09 / 04 / 19	2-0	0-2	+ -
Hezonja was absent from the lineup during the previous game with an illness but the symptoms will subside in time for Wednesday's matchup with the Pistons.
Lance Thomas (SF)	Prob Wed	Personal - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	0-2	+ -
Thomas missed the last game due to a personal matter but is likely to face the Pistons on Wednesday.
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)	out for season	Shoulder - 05 / 04 / 19	2-2	1-2-1	+ -
Mudiay is sidelined with a sore left shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
DeAndre Jordan (C)	Doub Wed	Rest - 03 / 04 / 19	3-2	2-2-1	+ -
Jordan is unlikely to play against the Magic on Wednesday as he is expected to receive a day of rest.
Isaiah Hicks (PF)	Prob Tues	Hip - 02 / 04 / 19	3-2	2-2-1	+ -
Hicks has sat out the previous three games with a sore left hip but is likely to draw back into the lineup against the Bulls on Tuesday.
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 01 / 04 / 19	3-3	2-3-1	+ -
Smith Jr. has been sidelined soreness in his lower back but is expected to suit up against the Wizards on Sunday.
Frank Ntilikina (PG)	out for season	Groin - 24 / 03 / 19	3-6	3-5-1	+ -
Ntilikina will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season due to a sore groin.
Allonzo Trier (SG)	Out Wed	Calf - 20 / 03 / 19	3-8	5-5-1	+ -
Trier sustained a strained left calf and will not return Wednesday against the Pistons.
Noah Vonleh (PF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 15 / 03 / 19	5-9	6-7-1	+ -
Vonleh will miss an undetermined length of time due to a sprained right ankle and a right foot contusion.

Raptors vs. Knicks Prediction