A second-half collapse meant the Raptors needed OT to dispatch the Thunder last time out. They’ll try to take care of business more quickly on Friday as the teams meet in the finale of a home-and-home set at Scotiabank Arena.
Pascal Siakam’s 33 points were the catalyst in the Raptors’ 123-114 OT win in Oklahoma City, helping Toronto keep pace with the first-place Milwaukee Bucks atop the Eastern Conference standings.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 22 Mar 3:18am | OKC | -2.5 -110 | O +226.5 -110 |
| Closing 22 Mar 10:26pm | OKC | -2.5 -110 | O +225 -110 |
Toronto returns home as one of the top cover options in the league over the past couple of weeks, boasting a 5-2 ATS mark in its past seven games. And the Raptors are in great position to strengthen that mark against a Thunder team that has been a spread bettor’s nightmare for a while now, having covered just three of its past 16 games overall. But Oklahoma City has been a tough foe in Toronto, having gone 12-5 ATS in its last 17 visits.
Oddsmakers are expecting plenty of fireworks in this one with a total of 226 – but the teams find themselves on divergent paths when it comes to totals play. Oklahoma City is 10-4 to the under in its past 14 games and has gone an incredible 36-16 to the under in its past 52 meetings with teams above .600. Toronto, on the other hand, is a red-hot 5-1-1 O/U in its previous seven games and has surpassed the total in six straight vs. teams with winning records.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder were fortunate to even get to overtime against the formidable Raptors, doing so despite shooting less than 42 percent from the floor and 30.2 percent from 3-point range. And while Russell Westbrook and Paul George did as expected, combining for 61 points, the rest of the starting rotation produced just 21 points on 8-of-31 shooting. The Thunder will need more from their secondary players if they have any hope of avoiding a home-and-home sweep.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto will be without point guard Kyle Lowry yet again as he nurses an ankle injury that kept him out of the first matchup. But the Raptors didn’t miss his ball distribution skills at all, racking up 30 assists in the victory – and it was a true team effort, with four different players each notching six helpers apiece. Siakam is in the thick of the race for Most Improved Player, coming into this one averaging 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Injuries
Hamidou Diallo (SG)
Nerlens Noel (PF)
Markieff Morris (PF)
Markieff Morris (PF)
Markieff Morris (PF)
Dennis Schroder (PG)
Jerami Grant (SF)
Alex Abrines (SG)
Abdel Nader (SF)
Terrance Ferguson (SG)
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)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamidou Diallo (SG) | Out indefinitely | Elbow - 14 / 04 / 19 | 2-3 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Diallo is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and it is unknown if he will return during the playoffs. |
|||||
| Nerlens Noel (PF) | Prob Wed | Quadricep - 18 / 03 / 19 | 7-10 | 8-8-1 | + - |
|
Noel was held out of the previous game with a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to play against the Raptors on Wednesday. |
|||||
| Markieff Morris (PF) | Prob Sat | Neck - 16 / 03 / 19 | 7-11 | 8-9-1 | + - |
|
Morris is dealing with a neck issue but will likely be available for Saturday's matchup against the Warriors. |
|||||
| Markieff Morris (PF) | Out Thurs | Neck - 12 / 03 / 19 | 9-12 | 8-12-1 | + - |
|
Morris was held out of the previous contest with soreness in his neck and will not play against the Pacers on Thursday. |
|||||
| Markieff Morris (PF) | Ques Fri | Neck - 20 / 02 / 19 | 10-20 | 12-17-1 | + - |
|
Morris is sidelined with a neck injury and it is unknown if he will make his team debut Friday against the Jazz. |
|||||
| Dennis Schroder (PG) | Prob Fri | Personal - 11 / 02 / 19 | 12-20 | 12-19-1 | + - |
|
Schroder has sat out the past two games due to the birth of his child but is expected back Friday against the Jazz. |
|||||
| Jerami Grant (SF) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 10 / 02 / 19 | 13-20 | 12-20-1 | + - |
|
Grant has missed the previous two games with a right ankle sprain. It is expected he will be available against the Jazz on Friday. |
|||||
| Alex Abrines (SG) | Out Sat | Personal - 06 / 02 / 19 | 14-21 | 14-20-1 | + - |
|
Abrines was absent from the lineup during the last game due to a personal matter and he will not play against the Rockets on Saturday. |
|||||
| Abdel Nader (SF) | Prob Tues | Illness - 03 / 02 / 19 | 15-21 | 15-20-1 | + - |
|
Nader sat out the previous game due to illness but is expected to be available against the Magic on Tuesday. |
|||||
| Terrance Ferguson (SG) | Ques Fri | Back - 29 / 01 / 19 | 17-21 | 16-21-1 | + - |
|
Ferguson was absent from the lineup during the last game due to mid-back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available against the Heat on Friday. |
|||||
| 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. |
|||||
Thunder vs. Raptors Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 22 Mar 3:18am OKC -2.5 -110 O +226.5 -110 Closing 22 Mar 10:26pm OKC -2.5 -110 O +225 -110 -
Injuries
Hamidou Diallo (SG)
Out indefinitely Elbow - 14 / 04 / 19Nerlens Noel (PF)
Prob Wed Quadricep - 18 / 03 / 19Markieff Morris (PF)
Prob Sat Neck - 16 / 03 / 19Markieff Morris (PF)
Out Thurs Neck - 12 / 03 / 19Markieff Morris (PF)
Ques Fri Neck - 20 / 02 / 19Dennis Schroder (PG)
Prob Fri Personal - 11 / 02 / 19Jerami Grant (SF)
Prob Fri Ankle - 10 / 02 / 19Alex Abrines (SG)
Out Sat Personal - 06 / 02 / 19Abdel Nader (SF)
Prob Tues Illness - 03 / 02 / 19Terrance Ferguson (SG)
Ques Fri Back - 29 / 01 / 19Fred 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 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Hamidou Diallo (SG) Out indefinitely Elbow - 14 / 04 / 19 2-3 2-3 + - Diallo is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and it is unknown if he will return during the playoffs.
Nerlens Noel (PF) Prob Wed Quadricep - 18 / 03 / 19 7-10 8-8-1 + - Noel was held out of the previous game with a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to play against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Markieff Morris (PF) Prob Sat Neck - 16 / 03 / 19 7-11 8-9-1 + - Morris is dealing with a neck issue but will likely be available for Saturday's matchup against the Warriors.
Markieff Morris (PF) Out Thurs Neck - 12 / 03 / 19 9-12 8-12-1 + - Morris was held out of the previous contest with soreness in his neck and will not play against the Pacers on Thursday.
Markieff Morris (PF) Ques Fri Neck - 20 / 02 / 19 10-20 12-17-1 + - Morris is sidelined with a neck injury and it is unknown if he will make his team debut Friday against the Jazz.
Dennis Schroder (PG) Prob Fri Personal - 11 / 02 / 19 12-20 12-19-1 + - Schroder has sat out the past two games due to the birth of his child but is expected back Friday against the Jazz.
Jerami Grant (SF) Prob Fri Ankle - 10 / 02 / 19 13-20 12-20-1 + - Grant has missed the previous two games with a right ankle sprain. It is expected he will be available against the Jazz on Friday.
Alex Abrines (SG) Out Sat Personal - 06 / 02 / 19 14-21 14-20-1 + - Abrines was absent from the lineup during the last game due to a personal matter and he will not play against the Rockets on Saturday.
Abdel Nader (SF) Prob Tues Illness - 03 / 02 / 19 15-21 15-20-1 + - Nader sat out the previous game due to illness but is expected to be available against the Magic on Tuesday.
Terrance Ferguson (SG) Ques Fri Back - 29 / 01 / 19 17-21 16-21-1 + - Ferguson was absent from the lineup during the last game due to mid-back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available against the Heat on Friday.
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.