The Toronto Raptors will face the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Tuesday after a 13th consecutive loss against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday without their stars Joel Embiid or Tyrese Maxey.
The Lakers will arrive in Toronto riding a wave of momentum. With a commendable streak of victories, winning seven out of their last 10 games, they currently sit just 1 1/2 games shy of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. A victory against the Raptors could significantly narrow the gap, potentially bringing them within half a game, should the Sacramento Kings lose against the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday.
Bet on Lakers vs. Raptors
LAL -12
TOR +12
Let’s look at the betting odds on both teams for this upcoming matchup.
Lakers vs. Raptors best odds
| Lakers Moneyline Odds | -649 at BetVictor |
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | +650 at PointsBet |
| Over/Under | over 232 points (-103) at Pinnacle under 234.5 points (-139) at Proline + |
| Spread | Lakers -12 (-102) at Pinnacle Raptors +13.5 (-132) at Proline + |
| Time/Date | April 2, 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
Betting Los Angeles Lakers (42-33 SU, 35-40 ATS, 41-33-1 o/u)
Fresh off a victory over the Brooklyn Nets, the Lakers owe much of their success to LeBron James, who delivered an astounding performance. LeBron scored a game-high 40 points, punctuating his masterclass with a career-high nine three-pointers. His prowess on the court extended beyond scoring, as he also contributed seven rebounds and five assists, orchestrating the game with finesse and vision.
Anthony Davis also played a crucial role in the Lakers’ win. His 24-point contribution was invaluable, yet it was his dominance on the glass, pulling down 14 rebounds, that underscored his impact on both ends of the floor. Rui Hachimura, too, left a mark on the game with a double-double of his own, scoring 20 points and securing 10 rebounds. Last but not least, D’Angelo Russell’s all-around game was on full display as well. Scoring 18 points, Russell didn’t just stop at contributing points; he rounded out his performance with six rebounds, six assists, and an impressive four steals.
Over the last 15 games, the Raptors’ defence has been on shaky ground, with injuries taking a toll and reshaping their strategy. Taking the biggest hit is the defence against small forwards as the Raptors give up the most points, rebounds, and sixth-most assists. Hachimura, stepping into this golden spot against the Raptors, stands on the brink of potentially having a standout performance. With the Raptors’ current form, Hachimura could very well dominate the scoreboard, excel in rebounding, and serve up assists with relative ease.
The spotlight also shines brightly on James who will be starting as the power forward. With the Raptors surrendering the third-most points and the fifth-most rebounds to players in this role, LeBron is poised for a big game. His versatility and prowess could see him exploiting this gap to the fullest, adding yet another stellar performance to his legendary career. Davis finds a favourable matchup against a Raptors team that’s been overly hospitable to centres. Handing out the seventh-most points, leading in rebounds, and offering the fourth-most assists to centeres, the Raptors present Davis with an excellent opportunity to showcase his all-around game.
Betting Toronto Raptors (23-51 SU, 32-42 ATS, 36-38 o/u)
In yet another challenging outing for the Raptors, the team’s strategic tank into the depths of the league standings has never become more apparent. Opting to keep their lottery pick in the upcoming draft lottery by meeting the condition that the pick has to land in the top six, the Raptors faced a formidable opponent in the 76ers, who, despite the absence of stars Embiid and Maxey, managed to rewrite their franchise history books by setting a new record for three-pointers in a single game. The 76ers’ sharpshooting prowess was on full display as they sailed to a 135-120 victory over the Raptors in a contest that was as high-scoring as it was one-sided.
The Raptors did not go down without a fight. A commendable effort saw six of their players scoring in double figures. Gary Trent Jr. emerged as the leading scorer for Toronto, scoring 23 points. Close behind him, Jordan Nwora put up a valiant 19 points. Kelly Olynyk also made a significant contribution with a well-rounded performance, scoring 18 points and dishing out 11 assists, demonstrating his versatility.
The Lakers’ defence ranks third in allowing the most points to point guards and second-most in assists in the last 15 games. They’re even more lenient against small forwards, giving up the second-most points and three-pointers, but remain one of the toughest on rebounds, allowing the third-least. Lastly, Olynyk faces a tougher scenario on the boards, with the Lakers offering the second-least rebounds to centres. However, they are surprisingly generous with assists, giving up the second-most assists to centres. Olynyk’s game could thus lean more towards playmaking.
Kelly Olynyk over 5.5 assists
+125
Lakers vs. Raptors injury concerns
- Scottie Barnes suffered a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand and is considered out indefinitely.
- Jakob Poeltl is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left pinkie finger.
- RJ Barrett (personal/conditioning) is probable.
- Chris Boucher suffered a partial MCL tear in his right knee and is without a timeline for return.
- Immanuel Quickley (personal/conditioning) is probable.
- Jontay Porter (personal) has been ruled out.
- Ochai Agbaji (hip) will not play.
- Gary Trent Jr. (rest) has been ruled out.
- Anthony Davis (knee) is questionable.
- LeBron James (ankle) is questionable.
- Christian Wood (knee) has been ruled out.
- Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) has been ruled out.
- Cam Reddish (personal) has been ruled out.
- Gabe Vincent (knee) has been ruled out.
- Jaxson Hayes (calf) is probable.
NBA betting trends
- The under is 7-2 in Toronto’s last nine games.
- Toronto is 7-21 ATS in its past 28 home games.
- The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
NBA player prop trends
- Olynyk has dished over 5.5 assists in four of his last five games. He’s averaging 4.8 assists per game this season as a Raptor. His line is at +125 (best odds at bet365) to dish over 5.5 assists against the Lakers.
- Davis has recorded under 3.5 assists in four of his last five games. He’s averaging 3.6 assists per game this season. His line is at -148 (best odds at Pinnacle) to record under 3.5 assists against the Raptors.
- Bruce Brown has made over 0.5 threes in four of his last five games. He’s averaging 0.6 threes per game this season as a Raptor. His line is at -139 (best odds at Caesars) to make over 0.5 threes against the Lakers.
NBA bets to consider
- Lakers moneyline; Hachimura over 15.5 points; Olynynk over 5.5 assists: +325 (bet365). Hachimura and Olynyk are in great spots to clear their overs as the Raptors have been giving up the most points to small forwards while the Lakers have been giving up the second-most assists to centres. Also with the possibility that Davis and James do not play, Hachimura will get more touches. With the spread set at -12 to the Lakers, it’s hard to see them losing.
- Over 232 total points: -103 (Pinnacle). If one or both of LeBron and Davis play in this game along with Hachimura, Russell, and Austin Reaves, it’s hard to see how the game will not go over with all the scoring that will be happening against the weak Raptors defence.
