The Toronto Raptors are leaving the 905 for their first and longest road trip of the season beginning on Monday at San Antonio against the Kawhi Leonard-less Spurs.
Toronto Raptors vs. San Antonio Spurs
Point Spread: Spurs -3
Date: Oct. 23, 8:30 PM ET
AT&T Center – San Antonio, Texas
Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Spurs opened as 2.5-point home favorites against the Raptors on the Sports Interaction NBA odds board. The total opened at 205.5 and moved up to 206.
San Antonio is 5-0 straight up (SU) and 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last five games against the Raptors at the AT&T Center. The Spurs are 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS on the season with one of their games playing over the total and the other going way under.
The Raptors are 2-0 SU and ATS with both of their games going over the total by an average margin of seven points. Toronto is averaging 123.5 points per game and allowing 97 per contest.
The Spurs and Raps share a common opponent in the young season with both teams having beaten the hapless Chicago Bulls. Toronto ran the score up to 117-100 while San Antonio slugged out an 87-77 victory at Chicago.
Raptors
All-Star wing DeMar DeRozan was battling the flu over the weekend but no one would know that by looking at the box score he filled up against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. DeRozan scored 30 points in a little under 27 minutes of action and was a team-leading +26 in plus/minus.
Starting centre Jonas Valanciunas might have some extra time to work on his itty-bitty ballers side hustle. He sprained his ankle against the Sixers and will not play against the Spurs on Monday. Expect head coach Dwane Casey to insert Bebe Nogueira into the starting lineup until Valanciunas returns.
Toronto blew out Philly despite making just 29.5 percent of its 44 tries from long distance.
Spurs
San Antonio continues to win games despite All-Star and MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard sitting out with a quad injury. He will not play Monday against the Dinos.
The Spurs offence is led by LaMarcus Aldridge when Kawhi sits out. The sweet-shooting big man is averaging 26.5 points, two blocks and 10 rebounds per game this season.
Head coach Gregg Popovich is a master at making sure every player on his roster – even the 15th man in the rotation – is ready to play when his name gets called. The Spurs are able to squeeze out wins without Leonard in the lineup because their execution running their offensive sets and defensive rotations is unmatched.
Toronto Raptors vs. San Antonio Spurs Prediction
Spurs 97-Raptors 92
