The Toronto Raptors are enjoying their first 3-0 series lead in franchise history – and they're in great position to add a first-ever sweep to their playoff resume as they tangle with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at HP Field House. The Raptors posted a 117-92 victory over the undermanned Nets and are overwhelming favorites to end the best-of-seven series this weekend.
- Date/Time: August 23, 6:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: HP Field House
- TV Coverage: TNT, TSN, YES
- Sportsbook Odds: Raptors -13 | O/U 217 (Line History)
- Raptors vs Nets (Matchup Report)
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The odds for both the spread and total have been locked in since the opener, with the Raptors favored by a whopping 13 points and the O/U set at 217.
Toronto News & Notes
The Raptors have looked every bit like the defending NBA champions through three games, averaging 118.3 points per game while shooting better than 47 percent from the field and going 2-1 ATS. And ball distribution has been at the heart of Toronto's uber-efficient offense, with the team averaging 27.7 assists so far in the postseason – more than any other NBA team.
Guard Fred VanVleet leads the team with 8.3 helpers, and has been the Raptors' best offensive player against the Nets. He's averaging 25.3 points while connecting at a 54-percent clip from the field and at a 54.8-percent rate from 3-point range. Look for VanVleet to continue to victimize the Nets' patchwork backcourt, and consider the Over on his point total prop.
Brooklyn News & Notes
With 10 players out of action, it's a wonder the Nets can even field enough NBA-caliber players to compete. And the chasm in talent level was on full display last time out, as Brooklyn shot 33.3 percent from the field at 31.4 percent on an eye-popping 51 3-point attempts. The Nets have now been outscored by 54 points in the series, and it could get even worse Sunday.
This game has the makings of an epic blowout for a couple of reasons. For starters, the Nets have been in a different stratosphere as the Raptors on offense, and not in a good way: they're shooting below 40 percent for the series and 32.1 percent from deep. And with this series all but over, bettors shouldn't be surprised to see the Nets bow out meekly and get out of the bubble ASAP.
Betting Pick: Raptors -13 (-110)
Toronto is ready for its second-round matchup (likely with Boston), while the Nets are clearly prepared to head home. This game shouldn't be close.
- Toronto is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games.
- The UNDER is 5-1 in the last six meetings between the teams.
- The UNDER is 8-4 in Toronto's previous 12 games.
