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Charlie Grant
Raptors vs. Nets Game 4 Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The 13-point spread in favour of the defending champions indicates Game 4 might not be much more than a warm-up for the second round of the playoffs.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Raptors are the reigning champs, but they don’t have a lot of experience as double-digit favourites in playoff games. They were favoured by 10 or more points in just two of their two of their 23 postseason contests a year ago. They covered the spread both times (-11 both times in the first round against the Orlando Magic).
Oddsmakers have increased the spread as this series has progressed. The Nets were getting 9.5 points in Game 1, then 11 in both Games 2 and 3, and now 13 in Game 4. A lot of that has to do with how complete the blowout was in Game 3.
Toronto led by as many as 31 points and it outscored Brooklyn 46-22 in the paint. Nets centre Jarrett Allen pulled in 17 rebounds but he didn’t get a single shot attempt up in 32 minutes of action. The Dinos have held the Nets below the century mark in points in each of the last two games, and the Under cashed both times. The Under is now 9-3 in the Raps’ last 12 games overall.
Toronto is 10-1 straight up and 8-3 against the spread since coming down to Orlando for the Disney bubble.
Toronto Raptors
It took a lot of guts to fire Dwane Casey when Masai Ujiri did. Casey, the former Raptors bench boss, had just been crowned NBA Coach of the Year. Sure, the Dinos were embarrassed again by LeBron James in the playoffs that spring in 2018, but Casey had guided them to a franchise-best, 59-win regular season.
Ujiri wasn’t convinced Casey was the coach to get his team over the hump. He let Casey go and promoted an assistant coach, Nurse, to his first NBA coaching gig.
It’s fair to say the move paid off.
Nurse pushed all the right buttons during the Raptors’ run to the title last season, and he was awarded with the Coach of the Year honours over the weekend.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets never led at any point during Game 3 and there’s little to think they will improve in Game 4. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, and if it were ever going to happen it certainly wouldn’t be with a roster as short on talent as this Brooklyn side.
TOR
BK