The Dinos are double-digit favourites on the NBA odds.

Rockets vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds

Friday will not be Toronto’s final home game of the season, however, as it will have at least two at Scotiabank Arena in the first round of the playoffs against an opponent TBA. Houston in on track to finish with the NBA’s worst record for a second straight season.

That didn’t lead to the Rockets winning the 2021 NBA Draft lottery, though, as Detroit did. Houston picked No. 2 and selected guard Jalen Green. The 20-year-old has All-Star potential and is averaging 17.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists. It will be fun to see Green and Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes face off if Barnes plays. More on that below.

The Raptors are looking to sweep the season series for only the second time since 2006-07 (2-0 in 2017-18) as Toronto won in Houston 139-120 on Feb. 10. Gary Trent Jr. had 42 points, while Pascal Siakam had 30. Siakam and Trent became only the third pair of teammates since the 1997-98 season to score at least 25 points by halftime. Fred VanVleet was out injured. Kevin Porter Jr. led the Rockets with 30 points, while Green had 18.

Houston leads the all-time series 27-22 but is 8-16 as the road team. The Rockets have covered only five of their past 18 as the road club.

Houston Rockets

Led by rookies Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, guard Kevin Porter Jr. and centre Christian Wood, there’s talent on this team, but the Rockets are truly horrific on defence in allowing 118.1 ppg. Defence often has to be learned in the NBA. Over his past five games, Green is averaging 31.2 points and is the fifth rookie in league history to have averaged at least 30.0 points over a five-game span while shooting at least 47.0 per cent from the field, 40 per cent from deep and 80 per cent from the free-throw line. Sengun, a steal as the No. 16 overall pick last year, is averaging 16.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 blocks over the past four. He is playing more minutes of late with Wood and veteran guards Eric Gordon and Dennis Schroder shut down for the season. Houston enters on a five-game skid and with only nine road wins but is 5-2 ATS in its past seven.

Toronto Raptors

Will Nick Nurse let his starters play Friday? There’s not much reason to do so – other than maybe being the regular-season home finale — or in Sunday’s matchup at the Knicks because the Raptors will be either the No. 5 or 6 seed (Chicago the other) in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Toronto’s magic number to finish fifth is one, meaning a Raptors win or Bulls loss this weekend earns it. There’s not much advantage this year in No. 5 over No. 6. OG Anunoby remained out injured Thursday and Fred VanVleet got the night off to rest when the Raptors upset the visiting 76ers 119-114 in a possible first-round preview. Pascal Siakam has been arguably a Top 5 player in the NBA since the All-Star break and had his third career triple-double with 37 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. Gary Trent Jr. chipped in 30 points. Precious Achiuwa played 40 minutes with Anunoby and VanVleet out and capitalized with 20 points. The Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their past seven at home.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Rockets vs. Raptors?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Rockets Team Leaders

HOU

Points	Christian Wood 17.91
Assists	Kevin Porter Jr. 6.16
Rebounds	Christian Wood 10.09
FG%	Bruno Fernando 70.7
Steals	Kevin Porter Jr. 1.13
Blocks	Christian Wood 0.96

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 22.81
Assists	Fred VanVleet 6.68
Rebounds	Pascal Siakam 8.53
FG%	D.J. Wilson 73.3
Steals	Gary Trent Jr. 1.74
Blocks	Chris Boucher 0.94

HOU

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 22.83
Assists	Fred VanVleet 6.25
Rebounds	Scottie Barnes 9
FG%	Dalano Banton 100
Steals	Fred VanVleet 1.75
Blocks	Chris Boucher 1.17

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Raptors Team Leaders

HOU

Points	Christian Wood 17.91
Assists	Kevin Porter Jr. 6.16
Rebounds	Christian Wood 10.09
FG%	Bruno Fernando 70.7
Steals	Kevin Porter Jr. 1.13
Blocks	Christian Wood 0.96

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 22.81
Assists	Fred VanVleet 6.68
Rebounds	Pascal Siakam 8.53
FG%	D.J. Wilson 73.3
Steals	Gary Trent Jr. 1.74
Blocks	Chris Boucher 0.94

HOU

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 22.83
Assists	Fred VanVleet 6.25
Rebounds	Scottie Barnes 9
FG%	Dalano Banton 100
Steals	Fred VanVleet 1.75
Blocks	Chris Boucher 1.17

Injuries

Houston

Christian Wood (PF)

Mid April Hamstring - 28 / 03 / 22

Dennis Schroder (PG)

Mid April Shoulder - 28 / 03 / 22

Eric Gordon (SG)

Mid April Groin - 27 / 03 / 22

Eric Gordon (SG)

Out Sat Rest - 26 / 03 / 22

Usman Garuba (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 25 / 03 / 22

Usman Garuba (PF)

Ques Wed Ankle - 17 / 03 / 22

Eric Gordon (SG)

Prob Mon Knee - 13 / 03 / 22

Dennis Schroder (PG)

Ques Wed Illness - 13 / 03 / 22

Chris Smith (SF)

out for season Knee - 10 / 03 / 22

Dennis Schroder (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 10 / 03 / 22

Toronto

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Prob Wed Illness - 17 / 04 / 22

Khem Birch (C)

Ques Mon Head - 16 / 04 / 22

Thaddeus Young (PF)

Prob Mon Thumb - 16 / 04 / 22

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Juwan Morgan (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 05 / 04 / 22

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 03 / 04 / 22

Isaac Bonga (SG)

Ques Sun Toe - 03 / 04 / 22

Yuta Watanabe (SG)

Out Fri Quadricep - 31 / 03 / 22

Khem Birch (C)

Prob Wed Knee - 28 / 03 / 22

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Prob Mon Toe - 21 / 03 / 22

Injuries

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Christian Wood (PF)	Mid April	Hamstring - 28 / 03 / 22	5-2	5-2	+ -
Wood is sidelined due to a tight left hamstring, and he will miss the remainder of the regular season.
Dennis Schroder (PG)	Mid April	Shoulder - 28 / 03 / 22	5-2	5-2	+ -
Schroder his out of the lineup due to a sore left shoulder, and he will not return for the remainder of the regular season.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Mid April	Groin - 27 / 03 / 22	6-2	5-3	+ -
Gordon is idle with a sore right groin, and he will not be active for the rest of the regular season.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Out Sat	Rest - 26 / 03 / 22	6-3	5-4	+ -
Gordon will not suit up for Saturday's matchup with the Trail Blazers as he will be given a day of rest.
Usman Garuba (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 25 / 03 / 22	6-3	5-4	+ -
Garuba is dealing with an ankle sprain, but he is expected to participate in Friday's showdown with the Trail Blazers.
Usman Garuba (PF)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 17 / 03 / 22	8-5	6-7	+ -
Garuba has sat out the last three contests dealing with an ankle sprain, and it is undecided if he will participate in Wednesday's showdown with the Mavericks.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Prob Mon	Knee - 13 / 03 / 22	8-7	7-8	+ -
Gordon has been absent from the previous four contests due to right knee tendinitis, but it is projected that he will be active for Monday's tilt against the Wizards.
Dennis Schroder (PG)	Ques Wed	Illness - 13 / 03 / 22	8-7	7-8	+ -
Schroder sat out the last game with a non-COVID-19 illness, and it has yet to be established if he will battle the Suns on Wednesday.
Chris Smith (SF)	out for season	Knee - 10 / 03 / 22	9-8	9-8	+ -
Smith is out of commission with a left knee sprain, and team officials project that he will not play in the 2021-22 season.
Dennis Schroder (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 10 / 03 / 22	9-8	9-8	+ -
Schroder is dealing with a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will play Friday against the Mavericks.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 17 / 04 / 22	2-3	1-4	+ -
Trent Jr. is battling a non-COVID illness, but it is projected that he will take on the 76ers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Khem Birch (C)	Ques Mon	Head - 16 / 04 / 22	2-4	1-5	+ -
Birch is tending to a head injury, and it is unknown if he will battle the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Thaddeus Young (PF)	Prob Mon	Thumb - 16 / 04 / 22	2-4	1-5	+ -
Young is bothered by a hyperextended left thumb, but it is expected that he will be active for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round against the 76ers.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	2-5	2-5	+ -
Siakam will not dress for Sunday's matchup versus the Knicks as he will be given a day of rest.
Juwan Morgan (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 05 / 04 / 22	4-6	4-6	+ -
Morgan is going trough the league's health and safety protocols, and it is unclear when he will return to the court.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 03 / 04 / 22	5-6	4-7	+ -
Anunoby has sat out the previous four games with a right quad contusion, but it is expected that he will participate in Sunday's clash versus the Knicks.
Isaac Bonga (SG)	Ques Sun	Toe - 03 / 04 / 22	5-6	4-7	+ -
Bonga has been held out of the last four contests with a sprained right big toe, and it is undecided if he will play against the Knicks on Sunday.
Yuta Watanabe (SG)	Out Fri	Quadricep - 31 / 03 / 22	6-6	4-8	+ -
Watanabe has sat out the last four games with a sore left quad, and he will not face the Rockets on Friday.
Khem Birch (C)	Prob Wed	Knee - 28 / 03 / 22	7-7	5-9	+ -
Birch sat out the last contest tending to a swollen right knee, but it is projected that he will battle the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Prob Mon	Toe - 21 / 03 / 22	9-9	7-11	+ -
Trent Jr. has sat out the last three contests with a left big toe hyperextension, but it is anticipated that he will be available to battle the Celtics on Monday.