The Raptors play their first game of February on Friday when they visit former Dinos All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet and the much-improved Houston Rockets.

Houston will be favoured on the NBA odds but by how much depends on a few injured Toronto players.

Raptors vs. Rockets NBA Betting Odds

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. That might apply to the 2023-24 Houston Rockets. The Toronto Raptors didn’t try very hard to re-sign former All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet – one of the most popular players in franchise history – this offseason, and he got three years and $130 million (US) from the Rockets this summer and has been a catalyst for one of the NBA’s most improved teams.

Houston won 22 games all of last season and already has tied that total. While VanVleet certainly gets some credit, so does first-year coach Ime Udoka. He previously had one of the best jobs in the NBA as coach of the Boston Celtics, including leading them to the 2022 NBA Finals, but was suspended for the entire 2022-23 season for some off-court issues, and the Celtics simply wanted to move on after that so Houston pounced last April. Any team could have had Udoka.

Still no sure thing the Rockets even reach the play-in tournament in the deep Western Conference but with a ton of young talent, this franchise is definitely on the rise. It’s the first meeting of the season with the Raptors as Houston and VanVleet visit Toronto next Friday.

Toronto trails the series 29-25 but has won four straight – tied for the longest streak by either team in series history — and two in a row in Houston, where it is just 7-20 all-time. The Rockets are 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings overall.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors were again without RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl due to injury on Tuesday in Chicago but upset a short-handed Bulls team, 118-107, to snap a five-game losing streak despite trailing by 16 in the second quarter. It was an interesting starting lineup around Scottie Barnes (13 points, seven assists) with Gary Trent Jr. (24 points), Bruce Brown (19 points, seven rebounds), Dennis Schroder (16 points, 10 assists) and Thaddeus Young (16 points) joining Barnes. Journeyman Jordan Nwora was terrific off the bench again with 17 points in 19 minutes. While Nwora has bounced around a bit since being a 2020 second-round pick by the Bucks, he’s still only 25. The better Brown plays, meanwhile, the more the Dinos can get for him in a potential trade ahead of next week’s deadline. Toronto totaled 34 assists to tie the NBA record (set by the 1984-85 Lakers) with 30 consecutive games of at least 25. Quickley and Poeltl both practiced in full Thursday, so that bodes well for them Friday. Barrett was limited. No word on backup centre Jontay Porter, who left Tuesday early with back spasms. The Raptors are 3-6 ATS in their past nine.

Houston Rockets

Young teams often have pretty drastic home/road splits and that’s the case for Houston, which is 17-9 at home and 5-16 on the road. Only NBA-worst Detroit has fewer road wins. The Rockets caught a break on Wednesday against visiting the visiting Pelicans as they were without injured starters Zion Williamson and Herb Jones, but New Orleans won regardless 110-99. Houston shot just 40.2 per cent from the field compared to 50 per cent for the Pels, who absolutely dominated on the boards as well. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 31 points and Fred VanVleet had 16 points and five assists, but Jabari Smith, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft, had zero points and was minus-19 in 22 minutes in his second game back after missing four with an ankle injury. Smith really sums up this team: Can be great one night and bad the next. Houston is 4-9 ATS in its past 13.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Raptors vs. Rockets?

• Regular Season

Raptors Team Leaders

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

HOU

Points	Alperen Sengun 21.13
Assists	Fred VanVleet 8.07
Rebounds	Alperen Sengun 9.35
FG%	Jermaine Samuels Jr. 64.3
Steals	Tari Eason 1.41
Blocks	Tari Eason 0.86

• Regular Season

Rockets Team Leaders

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

HOU

Points	Alperen Sengun 21.13
Assists	Fred VanVleet 8.07
Rebounds	Alperen Sengun 9.35
FG%	Jermaine Samuels Jr. 64.3
Steals	Tari Eason 1.41
Blocks	Tari Eason 0.86

Injuries

Toronto

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Sun Knee - 14 / 04 / 24

Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)

Out Sun Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Sun Hip - 13 / 04 / 24

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Ques Fri Back - 10 / 04 / 24

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Fri Knee - 10 / 04 / 24

Jordan Nwora (PF)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 24

Gradey Dick (SG)

Prob Wed Groin - 07 / 04 / 24

Houston

Dillon Brooks (SG)

Out Sun Hip - 13 / 04 / 24

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Out Sun Hip - 12 / 04 / 24

Jae'Sean Tate (SF)

out for season Ankle - 05 / 04 / 24

Amen Thompson (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 05 / 04 / 24

Cam Whitmore (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 12 / 03 / 24

Alperen Sengun (C)

Out indefinitely Knee - 10 / 03 / 24

Jeff Green (PF)

Prob Sun Knee - 06 / 03 / 24

Jalen Green (SG)

Prob Thurs Illness - 29 / 02 / 24

Reggie Bullock Jr. (SG)

Prob Thurs Back - 13 / 02 / 24

Alperen Sengun (C)

Ques Mon Back - 10 / 02 / 24

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Sun	Knee - 14 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Barrett is bothered by knee soreness, and he will not battle the Heat on Sunday.
Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)	Out Sun	Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Gueye is hampered by a right thumb sprain, and he will not take on the Heat in Sunday's showdown.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Sun	Hip - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Quickley is laid up with a left adductor strain, and he will not participate in Sunday's tilt against the Heat.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Ques Fri	Back - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Trent Jr. was held out of the last contest due to back spasms, and it is undetermined if he will take on the Heat on Friday.
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Barrett will not partake in Wednesday's showdown versus the Nets as he will be given a day of rest.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Fri	Knee - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Brown sat out the previous game with right knee inflammation, and it is unknown if he will face the Heat on Friday.
Jordan Nwora (PF)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Nwora exited the previous game with an undefined issue, but it is projected that he will dress for Wednesday's matchup with the Nets.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Olynyk will not be available for Wednesday's clash with the Nets as he will receive a day of rest.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 24	2-2	3-1	+ -
Quickley will not be active for Tuesday's clash with the Pacers as he will be given a day of rest.
Gradey Dick (SG)	Prob Wed	Groin - 07 / 04 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Dick missed the last game with a right groin contusion, but it is projected that he will line up against the Nets on Wednesday.

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Dillon Brooks (SG)	Out Sun	Hip - 13 / 04 / 24	1-1	2-0	+ -
Brooks is laid up with left adductor soreness, and he will not face the Clippers in Sunday's tilt.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Out Sun	Hip - 12 / 04 / 24	2-1	3-0	+ -
VanVleet missed the last game with a right hip contusion, and he will not be available Sunday against the Clippers.
Jae'Sean Tate (SF)	out for season	Ankle - 05 / 04 / 24	2-4	6-0	+ -
Tate will sit out the rest of the season with a right ankle sprain.
Amen Thompson (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 05 / 04 / 24	2-4	6-0	+ -
Thompson missed the previous game with a left ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will face the Mavericks on Sunday.
Cam Whitmore (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 12 / 03 / 24	11-7	14-4	+ -
Whitmore has been out of commission with a right knee sprain, but he is expected to return against the Mavericks on Sunday.
Alperen Sengun (C)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 10 / 03 / 24	12-7	15-4	+ -
Sengun will miss an extended period with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain.
Jeff Green (PF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 06 / 03 / 24	15-7	16-6	+ -
Green has been out the previous two matchups with left knee soreness, but he is expected to take the court Sunday against the Kings.
Jalen Green (SG)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 29 / 02 / 24	16-8	16-8	+ -
Green is ailing from an illness, but it is likely that he will lace up for Thursday's clash with the Suns.
Reggie Bullock Jr. (SG)	Prob Thurs	Back - 13 / 02 / 24	18-12	18-11-1	+ -
Bullock Jr. was held out of the previous match due to lower-back soreness, but it is believed he will take on the Pelicans on Thursday.
Alperen Sengun (C)	Ques Mon	Back - 10 / 02 / 24	19-13	19-12-1	+ -
Sengun missed the previous game due to lower-back pain, and it is up in the air whether he will face the Knicks on Monday.