The Toronto Raptors' big off-season acquisition is paying dividends already. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 27.5 points per game early in the season.
With two double-digit home wins under their belt to start the season, the Toronto Raptors’ confidence is soaring as they hit the road Saturday for a date with the Washington Wizards. The Raptors followed up an opening-game victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers by beating the rival Boston Celtics 113-101 Friday in what many believe is a preview of the Eastern Conference final. Washington is coming off a one-point loss to Miami in its home opener last Thursday.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 20 Oct 12:33pm | TOR | -1 -110 | O +216.5 -110 |
| Closing 20 Oct 9:37pm | TOR | -1.5 -110 | O +220 -110 |
Oddsmakers have this one as a toss-up, with the Wizards looking for revenge after being ousted in six games by Toronto in the first round of last season’s Eastern Conference playoffs. The Wizards were a dreadful cover option in that series and remain so heading into Saturday’s meeting, having gone just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games. The Raptors have their own cover problems, having posted a 3-8 ATS mark in their previous 11 road contests.
Teams are putting up points a-plenty early in the season, which is why it should come as no surprise that this game carries a total of 218.5. Toronto has gone above the total in five of its previous six games overall, and is 6-1 O/U in its past seven following a straight-up victory. The Wizards have cashed the over in six of their previous seven games following an ATS loss, and are 6-2 O/U in their past eight when their opponent reaches triple digits in its previous game.
Toronto Raptors
The early-season story in Toronto has been the sensational start from offseason acquisition Kawhi Leonard, who averaged 27.5 points and 11 rebounds in the two home wins over the Cavaliers and Celtics. And the scary thing is, he isn’t even firing on all cylinders yet; the former San Antonio Spurs star is shooting just 40.4 percent (his career mark is 49.4), while he has just one steal in two games – well below his 1.8 career steal-per-game average.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards were done in by some rough three-point shooting in Thursday’s disappointing loss to a visiting Heat team that had played the night before. Washington shot just 7-of-26 from beyond the arc, with John Wall going just 1-for-6 and Bradley Beal shooting 2-of-7. Most baffling of all: Otto Porter Jr., who finished with the highest three-point percentage in the league over the second half of last season, didn’t have a single attempt from deep.
Injuries
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Pascal Siakam (PF)
Jeremy Lin (PG)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Chris Boucher (PF)
Serge Ibaka (C)
Danny Green (SG)
Danny Green (SG)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Jordan McRae (SG)
Jeff Green (SF)
Jeff Green (SF)
Jabari Parker (PF)
Devin Robinson (SF)
Trevor Ariza (SF)
Trevor Ariza (SF)
Tomas Satoransky (SG)
Jordan McRae (SG)
Trevor Ariza (SF)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Prob Mon | Face - 08 / 06 / 19 | 2-0 | 1-2 | + - |
|
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors. |
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| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Prob Thurs | Personal - 15 / 05 / 19 | 7-4 | 6-6 | + - |
|
McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors. |
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| Pascal Siakam (PF) | Prob Sun | Calf - 04 / 05 / 19 | 9-6 | 8-8 | + - |
|
Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion. |
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| Jeremy Lin (PG) | Prob Tues | Back - 02 / 05 / 19 | 9-7 | 8-9 | + - |
|
Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round. |
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| Chris Boucher (PF) | Prob Wed | Back - 01 / 05 / 19 | 9-7 | 8-9 | + - |
|
Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks. |
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| Chris Boucher (PF) | Ques Mon | Back - 18 / 04 / 19 | 13-8 | 9-13 | + - |
|
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers. |
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| Serge Ibaka (C) | Out Tues | Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 | 15-9 | 10-15 | + - |
|
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Tues | Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19 | 15-10 | 10-15-1 | + - |
|
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday. |
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| Danny Green (SG) | Prob Wed | Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19 | 18-10 | 12-16-1 | + - |
|
Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday. |
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| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Prob Fri | Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19 | 19-10 | 12-17-1 | + - |
|
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan McRae (SG) | Out Tues | Achilles - 07 / 04 / 19 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
McRae was held out of the last game with a sore left Achilles and will not be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Celtics. |
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| Jeff Green (SF) | Prob Fri | Hip - 04 / 04 / 19 | 0-3 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Green is likely to participate in Friday's game versus the Spurs despite a hip injury. |
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| Jeff Green (SF) | Out Wed | Rest - 03 / 04 / 19 | 1-3 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Green will receive a day of rest and will not be available for Wednesday's game against the Bulls. |
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| Jabari Parker (PF) | Out Tues | Knee - 03 / 04 / 19 | 1-3 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Parker missed his second-consecutive game due to a left knee sprain and will not play against the Celtics on Tuesday. |
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| Devin Robinson (SF) | Prob Fri | Hip - 29 / 03 / 19 | 3-3 | 4-2 | + - |
|
Robinson missed his third-straight game with a left hip strain but it is anticipated that he will return against the Spurs on Friday. |
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| Trevor Ariza (SF) | out for season | Groin - 27 / 03 / 19 | 3-5 | 5-3 | + - |
|
Ariza sustained a strained left groin and is likely to sit out the remainder of the season. |
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| Trevor Ariza (SF) | Prob Tues | Groin - 20 / 03 / 19 | 4-7 | 6-5 | + - |
|
Ariza has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games with a left groin strain but is projected to suit up against the Lakers on Tuesday. |
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| Tomas Satoransky (SG) | Prob Sat | Head - 15 / 03 / 19 | 6-8 | 7-7 | + - |
|
Satoransky left the previous game with a head injury but is expected to lace up against the Grizzlies on Saturday. |
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| Jordan McRae (SG) | Ques Fri | Achilles - 14 / 03 / 19 | 6-8 | 7-7 | + - |
|
McRae is dealing with an Achilles injury and his availability for Friday's game against the Hornets is in question. |
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| Trevor Ariza (SF) | Prob Fri | Knee - 14 / 03 / 19 | 6-8 | 7-7 | + - |
|
Ariza is battling a sore right knee but is likely to be available against the Hornets on Friday. |
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Raptors vs. Wizards Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 20 Oct 12:33pm TOR -1 -110 O +216.5 -110 Closing 20 Oct 9:37pm TOR -1.5 -110 O +220 -110 -
Injuries
Fred VanVleet (PG)
Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19Pascal Siakam (PF)
Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19Jeremy Lin (PG)
Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19Chris Boucher (PF)
Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19Serge Ibaka (C)
Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19Danny Green (SG)
Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19Patrick McCaw (SG)
Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19Jordan McRae (SG)
Out Tues Achilles - 07 / 04 / 19Jeff Green (SF)
Prob Fri Hip - 04 / 04 / 19Jeff Green (SF)
Out Wed Rest - 03 / 04 / 19Jabari Parker (PF)
Out Tues Knee - 03 / 04 / 19Devin Robinson (SF)
Prob Fri Hip - 29 / 03 / 19Trevor Ariza (SF)
out for season Groin - 27 / 03 / 19Trevor Ariza (SF)
Prob Tues Groin - 20 / 03 / 19Tomas Satoransky (SG)
Prob Sat Head - 15 / 03 / 19Jordan McRae (SG)
Ques Fri Achilles - 14 / 03 / 19Trevor Ariza (SF)
Prob Fri Knee - 14 / 03 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Fred VanVleet (PG) Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19 2-0 1-2 + - VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19 7-4 6-6 + - McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF) Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19 9-6 8-8 + - Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG) Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19 9-7 8-9 + - Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF) Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19 9-7 8-9 + - Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF) Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19 13-8 9-13 + - Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C) Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19 15-9 10-15 + - Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19 15-10 10-15-1 + - Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG) Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19 18-10 12-16-1 + - Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19 19-10 12-17-1 + - McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Jordan McRae (SG) Out Tues Achilles - 07 / 04 / 19 0-2 1-1 + - McRae was held out of the last game with a sore left Achilles and will not be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Celtics.
Jeff Green (SF) Prob Fri Hip - 04 / 04 / 19 0-3 2-1 + - Green is likely to participate in Friday's game versus the Spurs despite a hip injury.
Jeff Green (SF) Out Wed Rest - 03 / 04 / 19 1-3 2-2 + - Green will receive a day of rest and will not be available for Wednesday's game against the Bulls.
Jabari Parker (PF) Out Tues Knee - 03 / 04 / 19 1-3 2-2 + - Parker missed his second-consecutive game due to a left knee sprain and will not play against the Celtics on Tuesday.
Devin Robinson (SF) Prob Fri Hip - 29 / 03 / 19 3-3 4-2 + - Robinson missed his third-straight game with a left hip strain but it is anticipated that he will return against the Spurs on Friday.
Trevor Ariza (SF) out for season Groin - 27 / 03 / 19 3-5 5-3 + - Ariza sustained a strained left groin and is likely to sit out the remainder of the season.
Trevor Ariza (SF) Prob Tues Groin - 20 / 03 / 19 4-7 6-5 + - Ariza has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games with a left groin strain but is projected to suit up against the Lakers on Tuesday.
Tomas Satoransky (SG) Prob Sat Head - 15 / 03 / 19 6-8 7-7 + - Satoransky left the previous game with a head injury but is expected to lace up against the Grizzlies on Saturday.
Jordan McRae (SG) Ques Fri Achilles - 14 / 03 / 19 6-8 7-7 + - McRae is dealing with an Achilles injury and his availability for Friday's game against the Hornets is in question.
Trevor Ariza (SF) Prob Fri Knee - 14 / 03 / 19 6-8 7-7 + - Ariza is battling a sore right knee but is likely to be available against the Hornets on Friday.