After being blown out 123-89 by the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors will now welcome the top team in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, to Scotiabank Arena on Friday night.
The shorthanded Raptors are huge 15.5-point underdogs in the matchup and will face their second-largest spread of the season. They were massive 17.5-point dogs against the Denver Nuggets a couple of weeks ago but ended up easily covering the lopsided spread.
Bet on Thunder vs. Raptors
OKC -15.5
TOR +15.5
The Thunder have won three straight games and six of their last seven to sit atop the Western Conference standings with a 48-20 record.
Let’s dive into the odds for this matchup courtesy of bet365:
Thunder vs. Raptors odds
| Thunder Moneyline Odds | -1200 |
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | +750 |
| Over/Under | 229.5 points (over -110, under -110) |
| Spread | Thunder -15.5 (-110) |
| Time/Date | March 22, 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: SN1 Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
All odds courtesy of 
Betting Oklahoma City Thunder (48-20 SU, 39-29 ATS, 38-29-1 o/u)
Everything has gone right for the Thunder this season and they’re way ahead of their competitive window with such a young and promising roster.
They’re of course led by Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 30.9 points per game on 54.4% shooting from the field through his first 66 games. On top of his scoring frenzy, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and a league-leading two steals per game. He’s also on pace to become only the third player in NBA history to average at least 30-plus points and two-plus steals while shooting 50% or better from the field (Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan are the others).
Oklahoma City is getting it done at both ends of the floor, ranking third in offensive rating (119.0) and fifth in defensive rating (111.5), resulting in the second-best net rating in the league (7.6). Additionally, the Thunder rank in the top three in the league in field goal percentage (second, 50%), free throw percentage (first, 83.2%), and three-point percentage (first, 39.4%). No other team in the NBA ranks in the top five in all three of those statistical categories.
OKC took the last matchup between these teams on Feb. 4, but it required two overtime periods to determine a victor. The Thunder eventually came away with a 135-127 victory on their home floor but didn’t cover the 8.5-point spread.
Betting Toronto Raptors (23-46 SU, 31-38 ATS, 34-35 o/u)
The season can’t end quickly enough for the bruised and battered Raptors, who will be playing the first game of a back-to-back set on Friday night. The good news is that they’ll be taking on the lowly Washington Wizards in the second half on Saturday.
It’ll be Canada Basketball Night at Scotiabank Arena on Friday, which makes sense with so much Canadian talent set to be on display. Three Canadians are expected to suit up in this game: Kelly Olynyk, Luguentz Dort, and Gilgeous-Alexander. That number could’ve been as high as five Canucks, but RJ Barrett (personal) and Chris Boucher (knee) won’t be in the lineup for the Raptors. Gilgeous-Alexander, Olynyk, Dort, and Barrett are all expected to be named to the international roster this summer for the Paris Olympics.
As for the actual game, one player to keep an eye on from a betting perspective is Gary Trent Jr., who has scored 15 or more points in a season-high seven straight games. He should be the only regular starter in the lineup as the Raptors have several key players listed on their injury report (more on that below). Due to his recent scoring surge, bet365 has adjusted for his uptick in minutes and scoring prowess by setting a lofty 18.5-point line (over -120, under -110), so tread with caution before placing your wagers.
Gary Trent Jr. over 3.5 rebounds
-130
Thunder vs. Raptors injury concerns
The Thunder have no injury concerns, but the same can’t be said for the Raptors:
- Scottie Barnes (finger) is out.
- Jakob Poeltl (finger) is out.
- Barrett (personal) is out.
- Immanuel Quickley (personal) is out.
- Boucher (knee) is out.
- Jontay Porter (illness) is probable.
- D.J. Carton (ankle) is out.
- Trent Jr. (back) is a late addition to the injury report and is questionable.
NBA betting trends
- The under is 4-0 in Toronto’s last four games and 16-5 in its past 21 home games.
- Toronto is 0-6 ATS in its last six home games.
- The Thunder are 0-4 ATS in their last four games and 1-4 ATS in their last five road games.
- The over is 6-2-1 in OKC’s last nine road games.
NBA player prop trends
- Trent Jr. has notched four or more rebounds in four straight games and seven of his last 10 and is -130 to record over 3.5 boards.
- Josh Giddey has drained a three-pointer in nine straight contests and he’s -190 to record over 0.5 threes.
- Dort has scored 10 or more points in four of his last five games and six of his last nine. He’s -130 to record over 9.5 points.
NBA bets to consider
- This spread opened at OKC -14.5 at bet365 on Thursday night, and it has already moved a full point to OKC -15.5 as of Friday morning. Don’t be afraid of the large spread here and take the Thunder to cover against the depleted Raptors. The Thunder need this win to maintain their slim lead over the Nuggets as the top seed in the West and won’t be taking the Raptors lightly.
- Trent Jr. over 3.5 rebounds: -130. The guard is averaging over 34 minutes per game over his last four due to all of Toronto’s injuries and he’ll be expected to help out on the glass again with so many big men on the shelf.
- Dort over 9.5 points: -130. Expect a big game from the Montreal native on home soil. In seven career games against the Raptors, Dort has averaged 16.3 points per game. The only two teams he has higher career scoring averages against are the Indiana Pacers (19.8) and Brooklyn Nets (18.3).
