The NBA season is officially underway which means Toronto Raptors fans are being treated to games almost every other night. Their next test comes on Monday night, when the new-look Portland Trail Blazers host the Raptors in an intriguing early season matchup.
The Raptors are coming off back-to-back losses after a win in their season opener. The Blazers, meanwhile, are trying to move on from the Damian Lillard era and have a lot to figure out as evidenced by their tough start. As the two teams take the court on Monday, we’ll provide some insights into what you can expect from the game, particularly if you’re looking to bet on it.
Bet on Trail Blazers vs. Raptors
POR +7.5
TOR -7.5
Trail Blazers vs. Raptors odds
| Trail Blazers Moneyline Odds | +245 |
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | -305 |
| Over/Under | 216.5 points (over -110, under -110) |
| Spread | Raptors -7.5 |
| Time/Date | Monday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN 4/5 Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
All odds courtesy of 
About the Trail Blazers (0-3 SU, 0-3 ATS, 2-1 o/u)
It’s a new era in the Pacific Northwest. Gone is their lone superstar, Lillard, who decided to move on in the off-season after years of failing to make the Blazers a genuine contender.
Lillard’s move to the Milwaukee Bucks brings with it serious tides of change. The team will lean heavily on young players Jerami Grant and Ish Wainright this season. Grant will be the catalyst in nearly every category now that Dame has moved on to greener pastures in Wisconsin.
Jabari Walker, Kris Murray (23rd overall in 2023), and Toumani Camara will all get quite a bit of attention this season. It is hard to truly know what to expect from the Blazers this year, but early returns have shown that the loss of Lillard will be felt profoundly throughout the franchise.
About the Raptors (1-2 SU, 2-1 ATS, 1-2 o/u)
The Raptors are a familiar outfit to their last couple seasons, but they are clearly moving in a slightly different direction compared to recent years. Gone is All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet, who has been a focal part of the success that the Raptors have had in recent years, including their NBA Championship run in 2019.
Though losing VanVleet is a blow that will be felt going forward, much of the roster is back. Leading the way is budding superstar Pascal Siakam. With the 29-year old Cameroonian earning more than $37 million per season, it is officially Siakam’s team now and the Raptors will need him to continue their presence as a playoff contender.
Guard Gradey Dick will also be getting a lot of attention this season. The rookie from Kansas is considered to be one of the best pure shooters of the 2023 NBA Draft class and the Raptors are hoping that they found a diamond in the rough. He will likely be eased into the lineup since this isn’t a team that is officially rebuilding as of yet.
Pascal Siakam over 21.5 points
-120
Injury concerns
Thankfully for the Raptors, nobody’s dealing with any serious injuries as of yet. C Christian Koloko (respiratory illness) is out, and O.G. Anunoby (muscle cramp) and Precious Achiuwa (groin) are questionable.
For the Blazers, Wainright has been dealing with a calf issue and is questionable The biggest issue is with SG Anfernee Simons. The guard tore the UCL in his right thumb and will be out 4-6 weeks as he recovers from surgery.
Betting trends
- The Blazers struggled a year ago in more ways than one. In addition to having a 33-49 record, they were below .500 against the spread, going 39-42-1. They are already off to a bad start this year, having failed to cover the spread in their first three contests so far.
- Going back to the 2022-23 season, the Raptors have been very good at hitting the over. They were 46-36 a year ago, though they are currently 1-2. The loss of VanVleet hurts but there should be more than enough talent there to make them tough to handle offensively.
- The Blazers ended the year on a sour note last season, losing 17 of their final 20 games, including the last four. With three losses already, they have lost seven straight dating back to last season.
Player prop trends
- Pascal Siakam was back-and-forth when it comes to his points prop a year ago, going 4-4 over his final eight games. This season, he is off to a slow start, having failed to hit his mark in all three games to date. He’s -110 to record under 21.5 points in this one.
- Malcolm Brogdon has been hot to start the year. His points prop is set at 13.5 points (-115), a number he has bested in all three games so far this season. Going back to last season, he has hit the over in six of his last seven based on that stat.
- Scottie Barnes has his points and rebounds total set at 25.5 (-115) for the matchup against the Blazers. In his last 10 games, Barnes has gone over his points and rebounds total five times, including his last two games.
Wagers to consider
- Siakam has struggled from the field so far, shooting just 37.5% over three games. But look for him to get on track by having his best game of the season, easily topping the 21-point mark (over 21.5 points -120) in what should be a high-scoring affair.
- The spread in this one is relatively modest but the Raptors are better on paper in every way. Look for the Raptors to cover the spread (-7.5, -110) as both teams comfortably top the 100-point mark. Don’t be shocked if the Raptors walk away with a victory by a dozen points or more, either.
