Not only is the home team unbeaten in the Raptors-Wizards first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, but it has covered the spread in all five games thus far. Any reason things might change Friday night in Game 6 back in Washington, D.C.?

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Washington Wizards were always more talented than a typical No. 8 seed, so it should surprise no one that they have pushed the No. 1 Toronto Raptors to a Game 6 Friday night back in Washington, D.C. The Wizards were 23-18 (16-24-1 ATS) at home during the regular season, the worst home mark of the 16 playoff teams. However, they are 2-0 (2-0 ATS) there in this series. Toronto was 25-16 (22-19 ATS) on the road during the season.

This group of Raptors has a checkered history in Game 6s. In the 2017 postseason, Toronto clinched its first-round series with a 92-89 Game 6 victory in Milwaukee. This Wizards team is better than that Bucks squad. In 2016, the Raptors played three Game 6s. In the first round, they lost 101-83 at Indiana but won Game 7 at home. In the conference semifinals, Toronto lost 103-91 in Miami but won a Game 7 at Air Canada Centre easily. In the East Finals, the Raptors were eliminated by LeBron James’ Cavaliers in a Game 6 113-87 home loss. James’ Cavaliers likely await the winner of this series; Cleveland plays a Game 6 at Indiana also Friday night.

On the Sports Interaction series line, Toronto is -1000 with Washington at +500. The total Friday is set at 214.5, with the Raptors’ number set at 106.5 and Wizards’ at 108. The favoured winning margin is Washington by 3-6 points at +450.

Toronto Raptors

It doesn’t take a PhD to see that the Raptors have played much better offensively at home in this series. They averaged 122 points in winning the first two games and then scored 108 in Wednesday’s 10-point victory – after averaging 100.5 ppg in the two losses in Washington. That Game 5 victory meant Toronto still hasn’t lost three straight games all year; the Raptors went 5-0 following back-to-back losses during the regular season.

DeMar DeRozan had 32 points and Kyle Lowry 17 points and 10 assists, but arguably the difference-makers were Jonas Valanciunas, who played in the fourth quarter for the first time in about a month, and backup point guard Delon Wright. Valanciunas played just 15 minutes in Game 4 but 32 on Wednesday and finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Wright made big play after big play down the stretch and finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes. He must continue to play that way with Fred VanVleet (shoulder) expected out Game 6 again.

Washington Wizards

The simplest reason the Wizards lost Game 5 is they took some terrible shots in the fourth quarter, in which they led by five with just under nine minutes left, by hoisting up one forced 3-pointer after another. Bradley Beal essentially forget there was space inside the arc. He finished with 20 points but on 20 shots.

The Wizards were an awful 5-for-26 from deep, and only Beal made multiple 3-pointers (3-for-8). John Wall was 0-for-4 from behind the arc and turned it over seven times. Kelly Oubre 1-for-7 from long range. Wall and Beal combined to miss 8 of 9 shots overall in the final nine minutes. The Wizards remain ultra-confident heading home, though, where they have won eight straight playoff games. That’s the second-longest active streak in the NBA.

Injuries

Toronto

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18

Norman Powell (SF)

Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18

Lucas Nogueira (C)

Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18

CJ Miles (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18

Delon Wright (PG)

Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18

Nigel Hayes (SF)

Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18

Washington

Otto Porter Jr. (SF)

Out indefinitely Leg - 26 / 04 / 18

Jodie Meeks (SG)

out for season Suspension - 13 / 04 / 18

Mike Scott (PF)

Prob Sat Concussion - 12 / 04 / 18

Ian Mahinmi (C)

Prob Tues Concussion - 06 / 04 / 18

Markieff Morris (PF)

Prob Sun Illness - 01 / 04 / 18

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)

Prob Tues Foot - 04 / 03 / 18

Tomas Satoransky (SG)

Prob Wed Head - 13 / 02 / 18

Jason Smith (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 12 / 02 / 18

Tim Frazier (PG)

Prob Thurs Nose - 11 / 02 / 18

John Wall (PG)

Prob Mon Illness - 22 / 01 / 18

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Thurs	Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18	2-2	2-2	+ -
VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18	3-3	2-4	+ -
Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Prob Sun	Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18	3-4	3-4	+ -
Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Sat	Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18	5-5	6-4	+ -
Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game.
Norman Powell (SF)	Ques Mon	Knee - 09 / 04 / 18	6-5	7-5	+ -
Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons.
Lucas Nogueira (C)	Ques Sat	Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18	7-5	7-6	+ -
Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jonas Valanciunas (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 18	7-5	7-6	+ -
Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic.
CJ Miles (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 21 / 03 / 18	8-12	11-10	+ -
Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday.
Delon Wright (PG)	Doub Sun	Toe - 06 / 03 / 18	13-16	15-15	+ -
Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks.
Nigel Hayes (SF)	Ques Fri	Personal - 06 / 03 / 18	13-16	15-15	+ -
Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets.

Washington

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Otto Porter Jr. (SF)	Out indefinitely	Leg - 26 / 04 / 18	0-1	0-1	+ -
Porter Jr. will miss the remainder of the Eastern Conference first round against the Raptors as he is undergoing a procedure to relieve the blood flow of his leg contusion.
Jodie Meeks (SG)	out for season	Suspension - 13 / 04 / 18	2-4	3-3	+ -
Meeks has been suspended 25 games for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug program. He will not be available to participate in the playoffs and the suspension will carry over into the 2018-19 season.
Mike Scott (PF)	Prob Sat	Concussion - 12 / 04 / 18	2-4	3-3	+ -
Scott has been diagnosed with a concussion but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Raptors.
Ian Mahinmi (C)	Prob Tues	Concussion - 06 / 04 / 18	4-5	5-4	+ -
Mahinmi was held out of the last game with a concussion but is likely to play Tuesday against the Celtics.
Markieff Morris (PF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 01 / 04 / 18	5-7	6-5-1	+ -
Morris has been dealing with an illness but is expected to play on Sunday against the Bulls.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 04 / 03 / 18	8-16	12-12-1	+ -
Oubre Jr. sat out the last game due to a sore left foot but is likely to play Tuesday against the Heat.
Tomas Satoransky (SG)	Prob Wed	Head - 13 / 02 / 18	14-17	14-17-1	+ -
Satoransky is dealing with a head injury but is expected to be available on Wednesday against the Knicks.
Jason Smith (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 12 / 02 / 18	14-17	14-17-1	+ -
Smith has been held out of action with an illness and it is unclear as to how much time he will miss.
Tim Frazier (PG)	Prob Thurs	Nose - 11 / 02 / 18	14-18	15-17-1	+ -
Frazier missed the last game due to a nose injury but is expected to play against the Cavaliers on Thursday.
John Wall (PG)	Prob Mon	Illness - 22 / 01 / 18	20-21	21-20-1	+ -
Wall is expected to suit up against the Mavericks on Monday despite ailing from an illness.

Raptors vs. Wizards Game 6 Prediction