Warriors vs. Raptors Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
It’s arguably the toughest ticket of the 2018-19 NBA regular season on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena as the Toronto Raptors welcome the Golden State Warriors in a potential NBA Finals preview.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Would anyone be surprised if the Warriors and Raptors met in June? Golden State has looked somewhat mortal thus far but hasn’t been healthy and also dealing with some internal drama involving Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. If you believe the reports, Durant is likely to leave as a free agent next summer and Green apparently said something about it in anger during a game. That earned Green, a combustible guy but in many ways the heart and soul of the Warriors, a one-game suspension.
Unfortunately for Raptors fans, it’s not 100 per cent that they will get to see perhaps the NBA’s greatest all-time long-range shooter on Thursday in Steph Curry. He hasn’t played since Nov. 8 due to a groin injury but did return to a full practice Tuesday. So that gives him a chance at playing. As good as Golden State is, it’s not the same without Curry (whose father Dell spent the last three seasons of his career with Toronto). Green isn’t expected to play. He has missed the past six with a toe injury.
Golden State has won eight straight in the series, although the two last year were decided by only a combined seven points. It was 127-125 in Toronto, in which the Warriors nearly lost a 27-point lead. Klay Thompson had 26 points, Kevin Durant 25 and Curry 24. Toronto didn’t have an injured Kyle Lowry. The Raptors’ last home win in the series was March 2, 2014. They visit Oakland on Dec. 12.
The Warriors are 1-4-1 ATS in the past six meetings.
Golden State Warriors
Golden State has followed an unprecedented four-game losing streak – unprecedented under coach Steve Kerr, anyway – with three straight wins. The Warriors rallied for a 116-110 home victory over Orlando on Monday as Durant had a season-high 49 points. It was his second straight game with at least 40, the first time he has done that since January 2011 while with Oklahoma City. He’s the seventh player in Warriors history with back-to-back 40-point games. Curry and Thompson also have done it. Thompson had 19 fourth-quarter points vs. Orlando, a career high in that quarter. Golden State is 7-1 SU against the Eastern Conference this season. That loss was to Milwaukee.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors could have been forgiven if they lost Tuesday night in Memphis because they were perhaps looking ahead to this signature game. Things weren’t looking good for Toronto down 17 in the second half, but it rallied for a 122-114 victory. The Raptors were 10-for-17 from deep after intermission and finished shooting 54.5 per cent from long range compared to Memphis’ 34.5. Overall, Toronto shot 60.9 per cent. Lowry had 24 points and Leonard 17 points and 10 rebounds. It was the Raptors’ sixth straight win – their third six-game streak of the season. They haven’t made it to seven yet. They will here.
