Charlotte at Toronto NBA Odds, Betting Pick & TV Info

The Toronto Raptors have clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but are still hoping to finish as high as third. They won’t be lower than fourth. Meanwhile, Charlotte is on the outside of the playoffs looking in at the moment and needs a strong push to close the season. However, the Hornets will be NBA odds underdogs in Canada on Wednesday.

Charlotte at Toronto NBA Odds, Betting Pick & TV Info

When: Wednesday, March 29, 7:30 PM ET Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto TV: NBA League Pass Stream: NBA.tv Radio: Charlotte / Toronto NBA Odds: Raptors favored by TBA

Why Bet on Hornets?

This will be the second of a back-to- back for Charlotte as it hosted Milwaukee on Tuesday. In Sunday’s win over the Phoenix, Kemba Walker made 10-of- 18 from the field for 31 points. It was 13th game with 30-plus points this season to match his career high from last year. Even with a six-game slump earlier this month, Kemba is performing very well since the break with averages of 24.2 points, 3.7 boards, 5.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 3.7 treys. The main reason why is Walker has put up a 70.3 effective field goal percentage on his catch-and- shoot attempts in his previous 16 games. Walker’s 31-point performance vs. the Suns on Sunday marked his 50th 20-point game of the season, a career-high of such games for Walker and the third-most in a single season in Hornets history (tied with Jason Richardson). With 18 points and 10 assists against the Suns, Nicolas Batum tallied his team season-high 15th double-double of the season (has five point-assist, eight point-rebound, one rebound-assist double-double and one triple-double). With one more double-double performance, the ninth-year pro can tie the most double-doubles he’s had in a single-season, having tallied 16 with Portland during the 2013-14 season. With 26 double-doubles in just two seasons as a Hornet, Batum already has the 21st most double- doubles in franchise history.In his last 12 games, Marvin Williams is averaging 13.2 points on 50.5 percent from the field, 10.4rebounds and 2.8 assists. Williams now has nine double-doubles on the season, six of which have come in the last 12 games. Williams is one of only four players with 10-or- more years of NBA experience averaging over 10 points, six rebounds and one-and- half threes per contest (Kevin Durant – GSW, LeBron James – CLE and Dirk Nowitzki – DAL). Additionally, among forwards that have played 10 games in March, Williams ranks fifth in rebounds per game (9.9). The starting lineup of Walker, Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Williams and Cody Zeller has now started in 38 games together, posting a record of 23-15 (.605). Among five-man lineups that have played over 500 minutes together in the NBA, that lineup has the fourth-best total net points (+86).

Why Bet on Raptors?

Toronto secured a berth in the 2017 NBA playoffs with a 94-86 victory Mar. 25 at Dallas. This marks the first time the Raptors have qualified for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. It is also the first time since 2004 that one of Toronto’s three major league sports teams have qualified for the post-season in four straight seasons – last: Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), 1999-04. The Raptors currently have a 6.5 game lead over Atlanta for homecourt advantage in the first round. Toronto is also one game behind Washington for the No. 3 seed in the East. Toronto leads the NBA with 19 comeback victories this season when trailing by 10-or- more points – last on March 23 at Miami. The 19 comeback wins is also a franchise record. Toronto has rallied from a double-digit deficit in six of its 11 wins since the NBA All-Star break. Toronto has won 50 of the last 51 games when holding opponents below 90 points, including a streak of 32 consecutive games since Feb. 2015. The last time Toronto lost while holding opponents below 90 points was Feb. 2, 2015 vs. Milwaukee (L 82-75). Toronto has held opponents under 90 points six times since Feb. 15. Since the All-Star break (Feb. 15 – Mar. 25), Toronto’s defense ranks first in the NBA holding opponents to 97.4 points and first in opponent field goal percentage (.432). The Raptors also have an NBA-best +114 scoring margin in the fourth quarter through 16 games since the break. DeMar DeRozan has six games this season with 40+ points – the most by a Raptor in a single-season. Entering the year, DeRozan had scored 40 points twice in his first seven seasons combined. The Raptors are a perfect 8 -0 all-time when DeRozan scores 40-or- more points in a game. This is the final meeting between Toronto and Charlotte, with the Raptors leading 2-1. They won 90-85 on Feb. 15 at home despite trailing by 17 entering the fourth. Toronto outscored Charlotte 32-10 in that quarter.

Charlotte at Toronto Betting Pick: Toronto Raptors

Toronto has won the past four at home in the series and will make it five while covering.