The Toronto Raptors on Wednesday get their first look this season at one of the most uniquely talented players in the NBA in the Pelicans’ Zion Williamson. New Orleans is a 1-point home favourite on the NBA odds.

Raptors vs. Pelicans NBA Betting Odds

Wednesday is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams with New Orleans visiting Toronto on Feb. 23. They split last year with each winning at home. Fred VanVleet averaged 26.0 points in the series. Pascal Siakam put up 23.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Former Pelicans No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson didn’t play at all last season so the Dinos didn’t have to worry about him. Ex-Toronto centre Jonas Valancuinas averaged 19.0 points and 13.0 rebounds, and Brandon Ingram 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

The Raptors lead the all-time series 26-17 and are 14-8 as the road team. New Orleans is 4-0 against the spread in the past four meetings.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto won its second game in a row Monday, 100-88 over visiting Cleveland. Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11 rebounds in his return from injury. Siakam has now recorded double-doubles in seven of his first 10 games played. Chris Bosh (eight) is the only player in franchise history to record more double-doubles through his first 10 games played in a season (twice). OG Anunoby scored 20 points. Gary Trent Jr. had started every game he had played this year but came off the bench and had 14 points. Cleveland’s 88 points were the fewest scored by a Raptors opponent this season. Toronto also held the Cavaliers to 7-for-38 (.187) three-point shooting, marking an opponent season low for that. Raptors Player Development Consultant Jamaal Magloire played for New Orleans from 2002-05. Magloire represented New Orleans in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game, the lone All-Star selection of his career. The Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their past five games.

New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans is off a 105-101 win over Oklahoma City on Monday. Zion Williamson scored 23 points (he’s second in the NBA in points in the paint at 17.3 per game), matched his career high with eight assists and converted a go-ahead three-point play with 44 seconds left. He added eight rebounds. The Pels needed all of it playing without starters Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum. Ingram is out for this one as well with a left big toe sprain, while McCollum’s return depends on his conditioning out of health and safety protocols. In the fourth quarter this year, New Orleans is ranked first in plus/minus (plus-3.8), first in field-goal percentage (50.9 per cent), second in points (28.9), third in assists (6.3) and seventh in rebounds (11.2). New Orleans is 3-7 in its past 10 after a win.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Raptors vs. Pelicans?

• Regular Season

Raptors Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 24.23
Assists	Fred VanVleet 7.17
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 9.12
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.2
Steals	O.G. Anunoby 1.91
Blocks	Jakob Poeltl 1.31

NO

Points	Zion Williamson 26
Assists	Brandon Ingram 5.82
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 10.18
FG%	Larry Nance Jr. 61
Steals	Herbert Jones 1.56
Blocks	Jonas Valanciunas 0.66

• Regular Season

Pelicans Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 24.23
Assists	Fred VanVleet 7.17
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 9.12
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.2
Steals	O.G. Anunoby 1.91
Blocks	Jakob Poeltl 1.31

NO

Points	Zion Williamson 26
Assists	Brandon Ingram 5.82
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 10.18
FG%	Larry Nance Jr. 61
Steals	Herbert Jones 1.56
Blocks	Jonas Valanciunas 0.66

Injuries

Toronto

O.G. Anunoby (SF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Wed Thumb - 08 / 04 / 23

Precious Achiuwa (PF)

Prob Tues Illness - 04 / 04 / 23

O.G. Anunoby (SF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23

Will Barton (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 26 / 03 / 23

Precious Achiuwa (PF)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Prob Wed Back - 22 / 03 / 23

Joe Wieskamp (SG)

Out indefinitely Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23

Christian Koloko (C)

Ques Sat Nose - 16 / 03 / 23

Dalano Banton (SF)

Prob Sun Thumb - 13 / 03 / 23

New Orleans

Larry Nance Jr. (SF)

Out Wed Ankle - 11 / 04 / 23

Brandon Ingram (SF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 08 / 03 / 23

Josh Richardson (SG)

Ques Weds Personal - 03 / 03 / 23

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Out Fri Calf - 28 / 02 / 23

Josh Richardson (SG)

Ques Wed Quadricep - 28 / 02 / 23

Larry Nance Jr. (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 25 / 02 / 23

Larry Nance Jr. (SF)

Prob Thurs Groin - 15 / 02 / 23

CJ McCollum (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 12 / 02 / 23

Brandon Ingram (SF)

Prob Tues Toe - 05 / 02 / 23

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Prob Tues Quadricep - 04 / 02 / 23

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
O.G. Anunoby (SF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Anunoby is dealing with right ankle soreness, but he is expected to be available against the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Wed	Thumb - 08 / 04 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
VanVleet is nursing left thumb soreness, but it is anticipated that he will face the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament.
Precious Achiuwa (PF)	Prob Tues	Illness - 04 / 04 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Achiuwa has an illness, but it is projected that he will take on the Hornets on Tuesday.
O.G. Anunoby (SF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Anunoby exited the previous contest with a mild ankle sprain, but it will not affect his status for Tuesday's contest versus the Hornets.
Will Barton (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 26 / 03 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
Barton has been absent from the last three games with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to return against the Hornets in Tuesday's clash.
Precious Achiuwa (PF)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Achiuwa has sat out the last two contests with right hamstring tightness, but it is likely that he will participate in Sunday's tilt versus the Wizards.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Prob Wed	Back - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Trent Jr. has missed the last two games due to back spasms, but it is expected that he will suit up Wednesday against the Celtics.
Joe Wieskamp (SG)	Out indefinitely	Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Wieskamp is out of the lineup with a right hamstring strain, and he will miss an undetermined amount of time.
Christian Koloko (C)	Ques Sat	Nose - 16 / 03 / 23	9-4	8-6	+ -
Koloko exited the previous contest with a fractured nose, leaving his status for Saturday's tilt with the Timberwolves cloudy.
Dalano Banton (SF)	Prob Sun	Thumb - 13 / 03 / 23	9-5	9-6	+ -
Banton has been sidelined due to a left thumb sprain, but it is predicted that he will return to face the Hornets in Sunday's tilt.

New Orleans

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Larry Nance Jr. (SF)	Out Wed	Ankle - 11 / 04 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Nance is dealing with left ankle soreness, and he will not suit up against the Thunder in the Western Conference Play-in tournament.
Brandon Ingram (SF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 08 / 03 / 23	10-7	5-13	+ -
Ingram has missed the previous two contests with a right ankle sprain, but it is not expected to affect his status for Tuesday's tilt against the Lakers.
Josh Richardson (SG)	Ques Weds	Personal - 03 / 03 / 23	11-8	5-15	+ -
Richardson missed the last two games with a personal matter, and it is unclear if he will play versus the Mavericks on Wednesday.
Jonas Valanciunas (C)	Out Fri	Calf - 28 / 02 / 23	11-10	6-16	+ -
Valanciunas sat out the last game with a left calf contusion, and he will not suit up Friday against the Warriors.
Josh Richardson (SG)	Ques Wed	Quadricep - 28 / 02 / 23	11-10	6-16	+ -
Richardson is nursing a right quad contusion, leaving his status for Wednesday's clash with the Trail Blazers up in the air.
Larry Nance Jr. (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 25 / 02 / 23	11-11	6-17	+ -
Nance Jr. has been sidelined with a lower left ankle sprain, but he is projected to make his return against the Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Larry Nance Jr. (SF)	Prob Thurs	Groin - 15 / 02 / 23	12-12	6-19	+ -
Nance Jr. sat out the last game with left groin soreness, but it is anticipated that he will play Thursday against the Raptors.
CJ McCollum (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 12 / 02 / 23	12-13	7-19	+ -
McCollum missed the previous game with a right ankle sprain, but it is expected that he will face off against the Lakers on Wednesday.
Brandon Ingram (SF)	Prob Tues	Toe - 05 / 02 / 23	15-13	9-20	+ -
Ingram was out of the lineup in the previous match due to left big toe soreness, but it is forecasted that he will be available against the Hawks on Tuesday.
Jonas Valanciunas (C)	Prob Tues	Quadricep - 04 / 02 / 23	15-14	9-21	+ -
Valanciunas sat out the last contest with right quad soreness, but he is anticipated to suit up for Tuesday's tilt versus the Hawks.