Western Conference teams in the NBA can sometimes be roughed up when making their annual East Coast trip but the Portland Trail Blazers are bucking that trend. The Blazers are on a five-game win streak with four of those victories on the road vs the East but they might face their toughest test tonight vs the Toronto Raptors. The Raps are an incredible 15-2 SU in their last 17 at Scotiabank Centre and have won their last three games when hosting the Blazers.
The Raptors opened as 5-point favorites with a total of 227.5.
Blazers vs Raptors Game Center
STANDOUT STATS
- The Raptors and Blazers both ranked in the top 10 in points scored (117.2, 115.4) and points allowed per game (108.9, 109.1) in February (nine games).
- The Blazers are 5-0 SU and ATS in their last five games with an average win margin of 13.8 points.
- The Raptors are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games against teams with winning records but have won and covered the spread in their last three at home vs the Blazers.
- The total has gone UNDER in seven of the Raptors’ last 10 games (avg. combined score: 223.2).
- Since acquiring Marc Gasol (six games), the Raptors perimeter defense has suffered as they rank 21st in opponent three-pointers made on 36.4 percent shooting. In five home games, opponents are shooting 35.9 percent (ranked 20th).
My Best Bet for Blazers vs Raptors
Raptors -5
I’ve gone back and forth on this line for most of the time I was researching as the key stats were pretty even on both sides, especially over the last month. I ended up settling on the Raptors mainly due to matchups as I think Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby can contain a Blazers team that relies heavily on perimeter scoring.
If this line was larger than -5, I probably would fade the Raptors on the spread because they have a habit of allowing teams back into the game after getting early leads. I think with the addition of Marc Gasol, they can neutralize the impact of center Jusuf Nurkic and make the Blazers have to score from outside the paint, so give me the Raps to win by six or more.
