Toronto Raptors vs. Los Angeles Lakers Prediction, NBA Odds
The Lakers are +1.5 on the NBA odds with a total of 223.5.
Raptors vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds
We really should get a good idea of where Toronto stands in the Eastern Conference pecking order after this five-game trip that goes through Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland and Oklahoma City. Even a 2-3 record probably would be considered a success. The schedule then gets very home-heavy for a while.
Are the Lakers legit NBA title contenders? Even having future Hall of Famers LeBron James and Luka Doncic, probably not without adding a big man via trade. Doncic is playing at an MVP level and LeBron is still going strong at age 41, although his incredible streak of double-digit scoring games ended early this season. This might be his final campaign.
Los Angeles is not currently whole as excellent guard Austin Reaves (26.6 PPG) is out with a left gastrocnemius strain. There have been some rumours he could be the big trade piece with LeBron’s agent speculating that L.A. should deal Reaves to Memphis for All-Star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. That would make the Lakers fairly scary. They are +1800 to win the Western Conference and +2800 for the NBA title.
The Lakers try for the sweep as they won, 123-120, in Toronto on Dec. 4. Rui Hachimura made a 3-pointer off a pass from LeBron as time expired. That assist ensured that James’ NBA-record streak of 1,297 consecutive double-digit scoring games in the regular season ended.
Toronto is 3-7 SU in the past 10 meetings but 5-5 ATS. The over-under is 8-2.
Toronto Raptors
It is always nice to get a challenging road trip started with some momentum, but the Raptors lost their last home game before this five-game swing out West, 121-117 in OT at home to the Clippers on Friday – blowing an eight-point lead with 3:35 to play. Toronto didn’t score again in regulation after that mark and has now alternated wins and losses over its past six. That the Dinos even got that game to OT was a modest victory considering that Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamison Battle were all out – Barrett, Walter and Poeltl will sit Sunday at a minimum. That meant guys like AJ Lawson and Alijah Martin, on two-way contracts, got minutes Friday. Jamal Shead was a bright spot with a career-high 13 assists and added 15 points for his first double-double of the campaign. Sunday is a bit of a homecoming for Brandon Ingram, a one-time Laker who was in that massive Anthony Davis trade all those years back. Ingram seems to still take the deal personally as he’s averaging 23.8 points in 18 career games against Los Angeles. The under is 9-2 in the Raptors’ past 11 road games.
Los Angeles Lakers
In the front end of a back-to-back in Saturday’s 132-116 loss in Portland, the Lakers played without NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic due to left groin soreness. That may simply have been an injury maintenance thing in the front of a B2B. But there’s also the worry that LeBron James may not play the back half tonight after scoring 20 points with nine rebounds and eight assists Saturday. He only played 32 minutes in the blowout, so maybe he won’t sit. But starting guard and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart left with an injury. The team’s top two centres in Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes both missed Saturday. Consider everyone questionable as we won’t get an official injury report on the Lakers until the afternoon. They have won eight straight Sunday games.
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LAL