Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards Prediction, NBA Odds
Toronto is a whopping -14 on the NBA odds with a total of 226.5.
Raptors vs. Wizards NBA Betting Odds
The NBA has a massive tanking problem this season, perhaps worse than it has ever been. Commissioner Adam Silver intends to do something about it in the off-season. But it seems that every measure the NBA has come up with since the original draft lottery in the mid-1980s only works for a season or two before teams figure out new creative ways to try and get a high pick.
There are at least eight clubs simply not trying at this point, and the Washington Wizards are definitely among that group. Earlier this season, the Wizards traded for two former All-Stars in Trae Young (from Atlanta) and Anthony Davis (from Dallas) but neither has suited up for the team yet due to “injury.” Seems rather unlikely either does play as there is simply no point. Washington’s most promising player in French centre Alex Sarr, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, hasn’t played since Feb. 8 due to a hamstring injury and let’s just say he won’t be rushed back.
Toronto should not be overlooking the Wizards simply to avoid the embarrassment of losing the season series as it is tied 1-1 and this is the finale. The Raptors won by 30 at home on Nov. 21 but were stunned, 138-117 in D.C., on Dec. 26 as 8-point favourites. Toronto was in a bit of a funk then and without RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl. The Raptors are still 28-26 as the road team all-time in the series.
Overall, Toronto is 7-3 SU and ATS in the past 10 meetings. The over-under is 4-6 even though both landed well over this season. This spread, by the way, is the largest the Dinos have been favoured away since April 2023 in Charlotte times two. Toronto covered both.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto’s two-game homestand to start this week didn’t go well as the Raptors lost to Oklahoma City and San Antonio – scoring 107 points in each. No shame in losing to what might be the NBA’s two best clubs. Rookie first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles had to leave Wednesday’s defeat to the Spurs with a left thumb contusion. Murray-Boyles has dealt with a thumb injury for much of the season, causing him to miss a handful of games. He’s doubtful. Former first-round pick Gradey Dick was completely dropped from the rotation Wednesday. Coach Darko Rajakovic went with Jamison Battle as the 10th man, but Battle only saw six minutes. Dick recorded his first DNP-CD since Jan. 18, 2024, in his rookie season. “Obviously, what he experienced in the first two years in the NBA is pretty different than what he’s going through this season,” Rajakovic said of sitting Dick. Doesn’t really sound like he will be back in the rotation soon. Toronto is 6-2 ATS in its past eight.
Washington Wizards
Washington lost its third in a row – all by at least 17 points – on Thursday, 126-96 in Atlanta. The Wizards’ starting lineup that night? Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington and Tristan Vukcevic. Now wonder they got clobbered. Riley, a 2025 first-round pick who is from Kitchener, did have his first career double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds). No Wizards player had more than 14 points, and they shot just 38 per cent from the field. Despite getting upgraded from a two-way contract to a deal for the rest of the season and a possible second year, Jamir Watkins didn’t play a minute. Somewhat curious as the 2025 second-round pick had scored in double digits six straight games. I’d love to tell you who will be playing in this one and who will not, but I’m not even sure the Wizards know themselves at times. They are second-to-last in the league in defence (122.8 PPG) and fifth-worst offensively (111.9 PPG). Not a recipe for success. Washington is 2-6 ATS in its past eight.
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