The Toronto Raptors haven’t lost back-to-back games in about two months and look to avoid that fate Friday when they come out of the All-Star break against the visiting Phoenix Suns.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Now that the All-Star break is over, it’s essentially the stretch run in the NBA. The Raptors are second in the Eastern Conference and are not catching the first-place Bucks. The key is to hold off Boston, which is 1.5 games back of the Dinos, for the No. 2 seed. To win the Atlantic Division, Toronto is a -143 Sports Interaction favourite with the Celtics at +110. To win the East, Milwaukee is -172 with Toronto and Philadelphia both +600, Miami +750 and Boston +800.

Phoenix, meanwhile, is playing out the string as the Suns will miss the post-season for a 10^th year in a row and finish with a losing record for the sixth straight year.

It’s the first meeting of the season between the Suns and Raptors, with Toronto heading to the desert on March 3 in the midst of a five-game trip through the Western Conference. The Dinos have taken the past four in the series. The one at home last year was 111-109 as Pascal Siakam scored on a left-handed layup as time expired. The basket was confirmed following a video review.

Phoenix is 9-1-1 against the spread in its past 11 in Toronto.

Phoenix Suns

Phoenix was supposed to take a step forward this season after finally solving its point guard issues that have been lingering for years with the free-agent signing of Ricky Rubio, but it hasn’t worked out even though Rubio has been solid in averaging 12.3 points and 8.6 assists. He and Toronto’s Marc Gasol have been played together numerous times for Spain’s national team, including helping lead the country to the 2019 FIBA World Cup gold medal.

Suns centre Aron Baynes has been out since Jan. 18 but will play Friday. Ditto former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton and Dario Saric, who have both missed recent games with ankle injuries. Devin Booker was the Suns’ lone All-Star this year; he also competed in the Three-Point Contest and lost it on the final shot to Sacramento’s Buddy Hield. Booker is 10^th in the NBA in averaging 26.4 ppg. Since Christmas, Booker ranks seventh in the league at 29.0 points per game. His next 30-point game will be No. 86 career, which would tie Amare Stoudemire for most in franchise history.

Toronto Raptors

With a .727 winning percentage and plus-6.3 scoring margin, this season’s Raptors are slightly ahead of where the 2018-19 team finished in the regular season (.707 and plus-6.0). The last time Toronto lost back-to-back games was Dec. 23 (at Indiana) and Christmas (home to Boston). The Dinos lost their final game before the break, 101-91 in Brooklyn to end a franchise-record 15-game winning streak. One could almost see that as a trap because the Nets nearly won in Toronto four nights prior and teams almost always drag a bit the final game before the All-Star break, especially on the road. Guys are worn down by that point and looking forward to some time off.

Gasol hasn’t played since Jan. 28 due to a hamstring injury but might return Friday – he’s listed as questionable. Norman Powell (fractured left ring finger) remains out indefinitely. This starts a four-game homestand, with the big one next Tuesday vs. the Bucks. Toronto hasn’t lost at Scotiabank Arena since Jan. 12 vs. DeMar DeRozan and the Spurs 105-104 when the Raptors blew an 18-point lead.

Who Will Win Suns vs. Raptors?

Injuries

Phoenix

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Thurs Knee - 12 / 08 / 20

Aron Baynes (C)

day-to-day Knee - 04 / 08 / 20

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob fri Illness - 31 / 07 / 20

Dario Saric (SF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 26 / 07 / 20

Jalen Lecque (PG)

Prob Thurs Personal - 22 / 07 / 20

Elie Okobo (SF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 22 / 07 / 20

Aron Baynes (C)

Ques Tues Illness - 21 / 07 / 20

Ricky Rubio (PG)

Ques July 31 Undisclosed - 21 / 07 / 20

Ricky Rubio (PG)

day-to-day Finger - 11 / 03 / 20

Cameron Johnson (PF)

day-to-day Illness - 05 / 03 / 20

Toronto

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 07 / 09 / 20

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 21 / 08 / 20

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 08 / 20

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Mon Knee - 10 / 08 / 20

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 08 / 20

Paul Watson (SG)

Doub Sun Back - 09 / 08 / 20

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Sun Eye - 08 / 08 / 20

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)

day-to-day Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20

Oshae Brissett (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 31 / 07 / 20

Injuries

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 12 / 08 / 20	1-0	1-0	+ -
Johnson is dealing with a left patella tendinopathy, but he is projected to be in Thursday's lineup versus the Mavericks.
Aron Baynes (C)	day-to-day	Knee - 04 / 08 / 20	6-0	4-2	+ -
Baynes is sidelined due to a Valgus hyperextension in his right knee, and it is unknown if he will return for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob fri	Illness - 31 / 07 / 20	7-0	5-2	+ -
Johnson is tending to mononucleosis but is likely to suit up Friday against the Wizards.
Dario Saric (SF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 26 / 07 / 20	7-0	5-2	+ -
Saric is dealing with a mildly sprained left ankle, but he is projected to suit up against the Wizards on Friday.
Jalen Lecque (PG)	Prob Thurs	Personal - 22 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Lecque will have to complete the league's COVID-19 quarantine protocol before he can get back on the court. It is anticipated that he will be ready for Thursday's tilt versus the Pacers.
Elie Okobo (SF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 22 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Okobo will miss an extended period due to a right ankle sprain.
Aron Baynes (C)	Ques Tues	Illness - 21 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Baynes has recovered after he tested positive for COVID-19, and it is unknown if he will be available against the Clippers on Tuesday.
Ricky Rubio (PG)	Ques July 31	Undisclosed - 21 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Rubio has yet to report to the team, and it is unknown if he will be available July 31 versus the Wizards.
Ricky Rubio (PG)	day-to-day	Finger - 11 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Rubio sustained a right finger injury in the previous game, leaving his status for the league's hiatus unclear.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	day-to-day	Illness - 05 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Johnson has been diagnosed with mononucleosis, and it is up in the air if he will be better when the league starts up again.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 07 / 09 / 20	2-1	1-2	+ -
Ibaka is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to play against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 21 / 08 / 20	4-5	2-7	+ -
Hollis-Jefferson is bothered by swelling in his left knee, but he is likely to be active for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 08 / 20	6-6	5-7	+ -
VanVleet will receive a day of rest and will not be available against the Nuggets on Friday.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 12 / 08 / 20	7-6	5-8	+ -
Anunoby is dealing with with soreness in his right knee, but he is likely to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 10 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-9	+ -
Ibaka is bothered by a right knee contusion, but he is expected to play against the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 10 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-9	+ -
VanVleet missed the last game due to a hyperextended right knee, but he is likely to be available for Wednesday's contest against the 76ers.
Paul Watson (SG)	Doub Sun	Back - 09 / 08 / 20	8-7	5-10	+ -
Watson is dealing with soreness in his lower back, and he is not expected to be in the lineup Sunday against the Grizzlies.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Sun	Eye - 08 / 08 / 20	9-7	5-11	+ -
Ibaka was forced from the previous game due to an eye laceration, but he is likely to be active Sunday versus the Grizzlies.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)	day-to-day	Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20	11-7	5-13	+ -
Hollis-Jefferson exited Saturday's game with an ankle injury, and his return is in question.
Oshae Brissett (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 31 / 07 / 20	11-7	5-13	+ -
Brissett is expected to be sideline for an extended period due to right knee surgery in order to remove loose bodies.