We’re back with another NBA matchup, and this time it’s the New Orleans Pelicans (30-29) against the Toronto Raptors (28-31) at Scotiabank Arena. With 23 games left in their season, both teams will be looking to improve their positions in their respective divisions. In this blog post, we’ll analyze the pre-game information and give our opinions on who we think will win, the final score, and our picks and forecasts for the moneyline, against the spread, and the over/under.
Injury List
Before diving into our predictions, let’s first look at the injury list. The Pelicans will likely have F Larry Nance Jr. in their lineup, while the Raptors will be without F Zion Williamson due to a hamstring injury. Additionally, F O.G. Anunoby’s (wrist) status is uncertain. Watch for the latest updates on the NBA’s official injury report.
Prediction
Our prediction for this game is close, with the Raptors coming out on top with a final score of 117-114.
Moneyline
When it comes to the moneyline, we suggest avoiding it altogether. While the Pelicans beat the Raptors in their last meeting on November 30th, they played on their home court. Given the current circumstances, we’d rather accept the points at this number than take the moneyline.
Against The Spread
The Pelicans have an ATS record of 28-31 this season and have gone 4-2 ATS in their last six games. On the other hand, the Raptors are last in the Atlantic division and have a season ATS record of 29-30, with their previous eight games going 3-5 ATS. As a favorite this year, Toronto has only covered the spread in 15 out of 34 games.
With that said, we believe the Pelicans will contend and keep this game within six points, thanks to their size in the paint and shotmakers who can create. Therefore, our pick is the Pelicans (+5.5) at odds of -108.
OVER/UNDER
The Raptors have scored at least 115 points in their last three games before the break, going over in six of their previous eight games. This season, they have a 34-25 over/under record and 17-14 at home. On the other hand, the underdog record for New Orleans is a league-best 19-10, and their road record is 18-11.
Considering all of these trends, we think the total score will go over 225.5, with the odds at -115.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Our expert NBA opinion is that the Raptors will win this game by a narrow margin of 117-114, with the Pelicans covering the spread at +5.5 and the total score going over 225.5.
As always, watch the injury report and any late-breaking news that may impact the game.
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