NBA Betting Preview (April 7): Wizards vs. Raptors Predictions

The Toronto Raptors have snapped their prolonged losing streak, clinching a much-needed victory after a challenging month without wins. They are set to host the Washington Wizards in their upcoming game. Both teams, currently positioned at the lower end of the Eastern Conference standings, will play each other in a game that has little to no meaning despite the outcome.

Let’s look at the betting odds on both teams for this upcoming matchup.

Wizards vs. Raptors Betting Odds

Wizards Moneyline Odds	+150 at bet365
Raptors Moneyline Odds	+163 at Pinnacle
Over/Under	over 231.0 points at LeoVegas (-108) under 232.5 points at Pinnacle (-107)
Spread	Raptors -4.0 at Unibet (-110) Wizards +4.0 at DraftKings (-108)
Time/Date	April 7, 6:00 p.m. ET
TV	Broadcast: Sportsnet One Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?)

About the Raptors (24-53 SU, 32-44-1 ATS, 38-39 o/u)

In a decisive victory that ended their 15-game losing streak, the Raptors emerged victorious over the Milwaukee Bucks with a final score of 117-111. This win was largely attributed to the standout performances of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Gary Trent Jr., each of whom played a pivotal role in securing the victory. Barrett delivered a comprehensive performance, scoring 26 points, securing 7 rebounds, and contributing 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block, showcasing his all-around game. Quickley came remarkably close to achieving a triple-double, scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, along with 3 steals. Leading the scoring effort for the Raptors was Trent Jr., who put up an impressive 31 points, including 7 three-pointers, grabbed 5 rebounds, distributed 3 assists, and recorded 2 steals, highlighting his offensive prowess and defensive contributions.

In this Raptors-Wizards contest, Quickley is braced for a standout performance. The Wizards’ defence, showing vulnerability on the perimeter, yields the 5th most rebounds to point guards, setting Quickley up for a potentially impactful game. Trent Jr. finds himself in an advantageous position against a Wizards defence that concedes the 4th most points and the most rebounds to shooting guards. His scoring and rebounding abilities could see significant opportunities for impact similar to how they did last game.

Ochai Agbaji, stepping into the small forward position, is poised to take advantage of the Wizards defence that ranks 2nd in both points and rebounds allowed to small forwards. Barrett faces a Washington squad that’s relatively generous to power forwards, ranked 3rd in points allowed, 6th in rebounds, and 2nd in assists surrendered to the position. Lastly, Kelly Olynyk will have a golden opportunity to dominate against a Wizards defence that allows the most points and rebounds to centers.

Betting the Wizards (15-63 SU, 35-40-3 ATS, 39-39 o/u)

In a closely contested match, the Wizards were defeated by the Portland Trail Blazers with a score of 108-102, a setback compounded by the absence of key players including Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones. Despite these significant losses, Deni Avdija stepped up as the team’s leading scorer, delivering a standout performance with 22 points and 12 rebounds, in addition to contributing a steal and 2 blocks. Jordan Poole also made a significant impact, providing a strong all-around game with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists.

In their recent performances, the Raptors’ defence has faced hurdles, largely due to players in and out of the lineup, affecting their effectiveness across various positions. Poole will be up against a Raptors defence that has shown resilience against point guards, allowing the 3rd least points in their last 15 games. However, they are vulnerable in terms of assists, giving up the 2nd most assists to point guards. This could offer Poole a significant chance to contribute through playmaking while finding scoring opportunities more challenging. Corey Kispert faces a Raptors defence that has conceded the 7th most 3-pointers made to his position. This stat highlights a specific area where Kispert could exploit the Raptors, given his shooting capabilities. Johnny Davis encounters a Raptors defence that is the most lenient in the league at defending small forwards in terms of points and ranks 5th in assists allowed to the position. Avdija is up against a Raptors defence that is less permissive to power forwards, ranking 7th in points allowed to the position. Lastly, Tristan Vukcevic will find opportunities on the board against a Raptors defence that is notably more forgiving to centers, offering the 3rd most rebounds.

Wizards vs. Raptors Injury Concerns

• Scottie Barnes suffered a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand in the loss to the Warriors and is considered out indefinitely
• The Raptors announced that Jakob Poeltl is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left pinkie finger
• The Raptors announced that Chris Boucher suffered a partial MCL tear in his right knee and is without a timeline for return
• Jontay Porter (personal) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Wizards
• Gary Trent (illness) is questionable to play Sunday against the Wizards
• Bruce Brown (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game versus the Wizards
• Kyle Kuzma (ankle) is questionable to face the Raptors on Sunday
• Tyus Jones (back) will not play Sunday against the Raptors
• Marvin Bagley III (knee) will not play Sunday against the Raptors
• Richaun Holmes (toe) is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Raptors
• Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) will not play Sunday against the Raptors

NBA Betting Trends

• The Raptors have hit the over in three out of their last five games.
• The Wizards have hit the over in three out of their last five games.

NBA Player Prop Trends

• Gary Trent Jr has scored over 17.5 points in his last 5 games. He is averaging 13.6 points per game this season. His line is at -125 to score over 17.5 points against the Wizards
• RJ Barrett has scored over 22.5 points in his last 2 games back, scoring 28 and 26 points. He is averaging 18.2 points per game this season. His line is at -115 to score over 22.5 points against the Wizards.
• Gary Trent Jr has recorded under 0.5 blocks in his last 5 games. He is averaging 0.1 blocks per game this season. His line is at -250 to record under 0.5 blocks against the Wizards.

Wizards vs. Raptors Predictions

• Toronto Raptors Moneyline; Gary Trent Jr over 17.5 points; RJ Barrett over 22.5 points: +350. Trent Jr and Barrett are in great spots to hit their overs, with the Wizards giving up the 4th most points to shooting guards and 3rd most points to power forwards. It will be a close game but with Trent Jr, Barrett, and Quickley, the Raptors have a good chance of winning.
• Over 228.5 Total Points: -110. The Raptors got back Barrett and Quickley who played a huge part in the Raptors’ offence. Against this weak Wizards defence, the game is projected to be a high-scoring game between both teams.