Next up for the Raptors on their season-long tying six-game road trip is the best team in the West, the 34-15 Oklahoma City Thunder.
OKC is coming off a convincing 126-106 win Thursday night against Charlotte and has won seven of its last nine games.
Bet on Raptors vs. Thunder
TOR +8.5
OKC -8.5
The Raptors, meanwhile, are reeling, having lost six of their last seven games, including a 135-106 decision to Fred VanVleet and the Houston Rockets on Friday.
Here’s a close-up look at the odds for this showdown via bet365:
Raptors vs. Thunder odds
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | +280 |
| Thunder Moneyline Odds | -360 |
| Over/Under | 237.5 points (over -110, under -110) |
| Spread | Thunder -8.5 (-110) |
| Time/Date | Feb. 4, 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: SN, SN1 Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
All odds courtesy of 
About the Raptors (17-31 SU, 22-25-1 ATS, 25-23 o/u)
The Raptors have been struggling as of late, which seems par for the course for the 12th place team in the Eastern Conference. A full three games back of the 11th spot and five behind the last play-in slot. Toronto defeated the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night, before losing to Houston on Friday despite Scottie Barnes’ 28 points.
The Raptors and Oklahoma have split the season series each of the past five years but this will be their first matchup of this season. Barnes has averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in his career against the Thunder. Toronto has enjoyed multiple contributors in its last few games however. No fewer than five players have averaged at least double digits in scoring in the last three games.
It will take that sort of collective effort if the Raptors want to earn their third win in 12 games. To make matters worse in that regard, however, is that Toronto will be without centre Jontay Porter, while RJ Barrett is a game-time decision. If Barrett is out, that leaves the Raptors without one of their top scorers for the fourth straight game.
About the Thunder (34-15 SU, 31-17-1 ATS, 27-22 o/u)
Oklahoma City is led by first-team All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and potential Rookie of the Year, Chet Holmgren. Holmgren has been a sensation after missing last season with a foot injury. This year, he’s averaged 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Not to mention 2.6 blocks, putting him fourth place in the NBA, just ahead of Anthony Davis. Not bad for a guy in his first actual season in the league.
As we all know, the real leader of this Oklahoma City Thunder team is the one and only, Gilgeous-Alexander, himself averaging 31.3 points, 6.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. The last of which leads the league by a hefty margin. The burgeoning superstar is leading the second-youngest team entering the NBA season to one of the best records around, good enough to tie for first place in the Western Conference.
Just how good are the Thunder? Jury’s out. With plenty of star power and lots of momentum, they certainly look ready to make an impact, but it remains to be seen whether the Thunder will be genuine title contenders.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 33.5 points
-110
Injury concerns
The Raptors will be without Porter (back) and have listed shooting guard Barrett as questionable with a knee issue.
For Oklahoma City, forward Jalen Williams (ankle) has been ruled out while seldom-used guard Tre Mann (personal) is questionable.
Betting trends
- The under is 7-2 in Toronto’s last nine games.
- The Raptors have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last 10 games.
- Oklahoma City has won over 75% of its games this season in which it was favoured to win.
- The Thunder have the second-best record in the league against the spread.
Player prop trends
- Toronto guard Immanuel Quickley has made at least two three-point shots in 15 of his last 16 games.
- Barnes has had at least four assists in seven of his last eight games.
- Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 30 points in nine straight games.
- Holmgren has had multiple blocks in 10 of his last 12 games.
Wagers to consider
- Holmgren over 7.5 rebounds (-145) looks reliable, and could potentially be a good parlay selection considering how heavily it’s favoured to hit, with Holmgren having pulled it off in five of his last seven games.
- Gilgeous-Alexander over 30 points (-230) should also be solidly within range. The OKC star has hit 30+ in nine straight games — including twice against the Timberwolves, and against the Nuggets — and there’s no reason to think he’s slowing down now.
- Newly acquired Toronto forward Bruce Brown over one threes made (-115) is well worth considering. He’s made at least that many in six of his seven games as a Raptor.
- Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl has secured over seven rebounds (-140) in six of his last eight games, and the Raptors will need him to keep pulling them down against OKC.
- We like Quickley to score over 18.5 points (-116), particularly if RJ Barrett does end up missing the game, as the Raps will need to funnel lots of offence through their new man.
