San Antonio Spurs vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction, NBA Odds
Toronto is a 1-point favourite on the NBA odds with the total at 234.5.
Spurs vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds
This writer believes the San Antonio Spurs win at least one NBA title before the end of the decade and that might be low. Oh, it’s not happening this season as the Spurs will miss the playoffs and finish with a losing record for a sixth straight season. Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history, has been sidelined since very early in the season after suffering a stroke and won’t return this year.
But Popovich wants to get back on the bench because he knows a juggernaut is on the horizon led by All-Stars Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. San Antonio won the lottery in 2023 and the chance to take the generational talent Wembanyama. The Frenchman actually has exceeded expectations if possible and would have won Defensive Player of the Year honours if not shut down for the year after the All-Star break due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder that should not be a long-term issue.
Wemby is already a Top 10 player in the league and might be No. 1 as early as next season. Fox was acquired from the Kings around the trade deadline – the Texas native only wanted to be dealt to San Antonio to play with Wemby and also has been shut down. Those two and Stephon Castle is quite the young Big 3. And the Spurs will have a high draft pick this year, and guys will want to play there with Wembanyama. Better beat them now.
This is the first meeting of the season with the clubs closing their campaigns in the Alamo City on April 13. They split last season, each winning on the road. Toronto is 7-3 SU & ATS in the past 10 meetings and the over-under is 5-5.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio won its second game in a row Friday (both at home), 128-120 over a very short-handed Philadelphia team — although obviously the Spurs aren’t near full strength, either, as we mentioned above. Jeremy Sochan led the way with 23 points, while future Hall of Famer Chris Paul, still going pretty strong at age 39, had 18 points. Stephon Castle added 17 points and 14 rebounds, and the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is the -600 favourite for Rookie of the Year. The Spurs have one of the NBA’s iron men in veteran forward Harrison Barnes, who has played in 291 straight games – second-longest active streak in the league. Barnes is one of only 11 players in the NBA to hit 100 3-pointers every season since 2017. Former Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is on that list. The Spurs have no Canadian players on their roster. They are 1-8 ATS in their past nine on the road.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto has been off since losing a third straight game Thursday, 117-114 at Golden State to complete a trip through the Western Conference at 1-3. The Dinos shot a stellar 56.4 per cent from the field, their sixth-highest field goal percentage this season, but fell to 9-8 overall when shooting 50 per cent or higher. Scottie Barnes was terrific with 29 points and 10 rebounds for his team-leading 23rd double-double of the season. Barnes needs six more rebounds to be the 12th player in franchise history to reach 2,000 career with the Raptors. RJ Barrett missed a third straight game Thursday, but this time for rest purposes – i.e. tanking. He is not on the injury report for Sunday, but things can change. Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick and Brandon Ingram all are out. Toronto has won or split the previous seven season series vs. San Antonio and won seven of the past 10 at home vs. the Spurs. Raptors assistant coach Ivo Simović scouted internationally for the Spurs and was a part of the franchise’s 2013 and 2014 summer league coaching staff. Toronto is 5-1 ATS in its past six.
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