Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction, NBA Odds
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Edgar Chaput
Toronto native Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have continued where they left off in 2023-24. They’re currently 16-5 and in first place in the Western Conference. Their most recent success was a 133-108 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday in their final NBA Cup group stage match. The Raptors were at home on the same night for a game that meant nothing in the NBA Cup but counted in the regular standings for them. Toronto downed the Indiana Pacers 122-111.
Check out our NBA odds as they develop.
Thunder vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds
It’s always special when the Thunder play the Raptors in Toronto. Gilgeous-Alexander is from the city, so is RJ Barrett, and Luguentz Dort and Chris Boucher are Montrealers. The only piece missing is B.C. native Kelly Olynyk, but he’s still nursing a back injury.
The Thunder swept last season’s two-game series, with a 20-point victory in Toronto and a narrower win in overtime at home. Before that, the teams traded wins over eight games for an even 4-4 record.
Mark Daigneault’s ensemble has a confidence-boosting 12-7-2 record against the spread. However, it’s been more difficult lately, as OKC has only gone 3-4-1 ATS in their last eight. Perhaps surprisingly, they are mostly successful with a stout defence rather than a crushing attack. The Thunder give up 104.1 points per game (second-best), which is nothing in today’s NBA. Opponents only shoot 42.6 per cent from the field against them, also top of the league. But don’t fret. Shai averages 29.8 points a night, which is fourth-best.
As for Toronto, it would be unwise to overlook this group. The 7-15 straight-up tally doesn’t look good, but they were 2-12 not long ago. Furthermore, their issues are on the road, not at Scotiabank Arena, where they have a respectable 6-4 record. It’s also hard to say no to a 15-7 record ATS. Let’s put it this way: the Raptors have been underdogs all season. They don’t have to win; they just need to keep the game close.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Tuesday night’s NBA Cup group stage finale wasn’t going to alter the Thunder’s tournament journey that much unless they lost badly. But few thought that was a possibility, and it didn’t materialize.
In fact, the only quarter the hosts didn’t win was the last one, which ended 31-31. A somewhat narrow 12-point game at halftime exploded into a 33-point advantage at one point in the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander whizzed his way through traffic to the tune of 26 points (and added seven assists). Jalen Williams led the charge with 28 points, including some ferocious dunks.
This team’s bench is very dangerous. Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins nearly hit 20 points each, tallying 19 and 16, respectively. Joe even finished with a plus-22 rating in only 22 minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein had a quiet 4 points but has a season and career-best 13.3 average.
Oklahoma City was on cruise control. Make the final 133-108.
Toronto Raptors
Indiana presented a unique challenge for Toronto on Tuesday. It’s a team that can have cold streaks and piping-hot ones. The Raptors learned that firsthand during their 122-111 victory.
For the better part of the first two quarters and into the third, the hosts dominated, leading by as many as 24 points. They were also a ruthlessly efficient 54.3 per cent from the field, thanks in large part to Barrett (29 points), Scottie Barnes (35 points), and Jakob Poeltl (17 points) being aggressive in the paint.
But as the third quarter transitioned over to the fourth, the Pacers got going, protecting the ball better and making shots. With 6:36 left, it was 106-103 for Toronto. It’s one of the Raptors’ weaknesses: they don’t protect late leads well. It’s all part of the growing process as this franchise rises from the ashes.
OKC
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