One of the most hotly-anticipated 1-on-1 showdowns of the season might not go off as the Toronto Raptors visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. This was supposed to be a showcase between Lakers mega-star LeBron James and Raptors counterpart Kawhi Leonard – but with Leonard considered questionable with a jammed left ankle, Toronto might have to do without one of the top players in the league for its visit to Staples Center.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
No odds are available yet.
The Lakers are only slight underdogs in this one despite facing the top team in the Eastern Conference while having played a night earlier, outlasting the Trail Blazers 115-111 in Portland. But Los Angeles has been surprisingly good on zero days rest, having covered five of the past six times in that scenario. And Toronto has had a dreadful time living up to expectations vs. Western Conference opponents, having failed to cover seven straight times.
The total for this one is a sky-high 233.5, but there’s reason to believe this one could eclipse the number. Toronto has converted the over in eight of its previous 10 games, and are a perfect 4-0 O/U in their previous four games after failing to cover the spread last time out. And the Lakers have three overs with one push in their last five games against Atlantic Division opponents. But the teams have gone 5-2 to the under in their past seven head-to-head meetings.
Toronto Raptors
With Leonard banged up and expected to sit out one of the next two games on the road trip – the Raptors face Utah on Monday night – head coach Nick Nurse will need to get creative. But ball distribution hasn’t been a problem for this team with or without Leonard in the lineup; the Raptors rank tied for fourth in the NBA at 26 assists per game, with veteran point guard Kyle Lowry and his 11.2 dimes leading the league by nearly 2 ½ over runner-up Russell Westbrook.
Los Angeles Lakers
What can we say about the Lakers through their first nine games of the LeBron James era? They’re also good at sharing the ball – ranking sixth in the league at 25.7 assists per game – but can’t defend worth a lick. Los Angeles is surrendering a whopping 119.9 points per game so far in 2018-19, the fourth-highest average in the league. The Lakers have given up at least 110 points in all nine games they’ve played this season.
Injuries
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Pascal Siakam (PF)
Jeremy Lin (PG)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Serge Ibaka (C)
Danny Green (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Lance Stephenson (SG)
Rajon Rondo (PG)
Tyson Chandler (C)
Reggie Bullock (SG)
Reggie Bullock (SG)
Tyson Chandler (C)
Reggie Bullock (SG)
Mike Muscala (PF)
Josh Hart (SG)
Josh Hart (SG)
Injuries
| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lance Stephenson (SG) | Ques Tues | Foot - 09 / 04 / 19 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. |
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| Rajon Rondo (PG) | Out Tues | Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested. |
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| Tyson Chandler (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest. |
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| Reggie Bullock (SG) | Ques Tues | Neck - 04 / 04 / 19 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers. |
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| Reggie Bullock (SG) | Prob Tues | Foot - 01 / 04 / 19 | 3-2 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot. |
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| Tyson Chandler (C) | Ques Tues | Flu - 26 / 03 / 19 | 7-2 | 4-5 | + - |
|
Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. |
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| Reggie Bullock (SG) | Prob Sun | Foot - 24 / 03 / 19 | 7-3 | 4-6 | + - |
|
Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans. |
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| Mike Muscala (PF) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19 | 7-4 | 4-7 | + - |
|
Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets. |
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| Josh Hart (SG) | out for season | Knee - 21 / 03 / 19 | 7-4 | 4-7 | + - |
|
Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season. |
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| Josh Hart (SG) | Prob Tues | Knee - 18 / 03 / 19 | 7-5 | 5-7 | + - |
|
Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday. |
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Raptors vs. Lakers Prediction
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Line History
No odds are available yet.
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Injuries
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19Pascal Siakam (PF)
Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19Jeremy Lin (PG)
Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19Serge Ibaka (C)
Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19Lance Stephenson (SG)
Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19Rajon Rondo (PG)
Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19Tyson Chandler (C)
Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19Reggie Bullock (SG)
Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19Reggie Bullock (SG)
Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19Tyson Chandler (C)
Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19Reggie Bullock (SG)
Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19Mike Muscala (PF)
Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19Josh Hart (SG)
out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19Josh Hart (SG)
Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19Injuries
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.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Lance Stephenson (SG) Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19 1-0 1-0 + - Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Rajon Rondo (PG) Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 2-0 2-0 + - Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested.
Tyson Chandler (C) Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19 2-0 2-0 + - Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest.
Reggie Bullock (SG) Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19 2-2 2-2 + - Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
Reggie Bullock (SG) Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19 3-2 3-2 + - Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Tyson Chandler (C) Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19 7-2 4-5 + - Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Reggie Bullock (SG) Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19 7-3 4-6 + - Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.
Mike Muscala (PF) Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19 7-4 4-7 + - Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets.
Josh Hart (SG) out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19 7-4 4-7 + - Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Josh Hart (SG) Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19 7-5 5-7 + - Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday.