It’s a terrific NBA on TNT doubleheader on Thursday night, and the opener features the return of All-Star and MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard of the Raptors to San Antonio for the first time since he essentially forced a trade from the Spurs this offseason. How will the crowd welcome him? The NBA lines will be affected by the status of another Raptors All-Star, guard Kyle Lowry, although he’s not likely to play.
How to Bet Raptors vs Spurs NBA Odds & Game Info
Numbers don’t lie.
45 Pts | 6 Reb | 73 FG% Make sure Kawhi starts at the @NBAAllStar Game » https://t.co/AYydxzDq68 pic.twitter.com/QOGiFdxPGV — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) 2 de enero de 2019
- When: Thursday, 8 PM ET
- Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
- TV: TNT
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- Radio: TuneIn
- NBA Odds: San Antonio Spurs -1.5 (Total 216.5)
2018-19 NBA Championship Odds
Team Records
- All: Raptors 28-11 / Spurs 21-17
- Home: Raptors 15-4 / Spurs 15-5
- Away: Raptors 13-7 / Spurs 6-12
- ATS: Raptors 16-22-1 / Spurs 22-16
- Over/Under: Raptors 22-17 / Spurs 21-16-1
Season Series
First Meeting. They split last year, each winning at home. San Antonio won its ninth straight at home in the series 101-97. The Spurs out-rebounded the Raptors 55-34 in the game and got 16 points and 14 rebounds by point guard Dejounte Murray. The 14 boards set a new career high for Murray, who is out this season injured.
Current Spur DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 28 points. He was the key part back in the Leonard trade this offseason. The Raptors, meanwhile, were 86-83 home winners. Kyle Lowry and DeRozan combined to score 45 points. LaMarcus Aldridge led San Antonio with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard missed both games.
Why Bet on Toronto?
The Raptors won their second in a row Tuesday, 122-116 over Utah behind a career-high 45 points from Kawhi Leonard. He hit 16-of-22 shots and 13-17 free throws. He put the Raptors on his back in the second half with 30 of his 45 points, adding six rebounds and one assist. It was just the second game with 40+ points of his career, as he beat his previous career-high of 41 points set on Jan. 21 in 2017. He’s had a 32.3% usage rate since Kyle Lowry (back) went down.
Leonard is the third player in the NBA this season to score 40-or-more points without a three-point field goal, joining Anthony Davis (three times) and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Leonard has now scored 20+ points in a career-long 14 straight games (Nov. 29 – Jan. 1).
Pascal Siakam notched a career-high 28 points vs. the Jazz 10 rebounds, one assist, and three triples in 32 minutes. Siakam continues to build his case for the Most Improved Player Award. He shot an efficient 9-of-15 from the field and 7-of-7 from the line.
Lowry is doubtful to play on Thursday. Nick Nurse did mention that Lowry has responded well to the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory injection he had in his lower back over the weekend, but it sounds like he’ll at least be out the rest of this week barring a miraculous turnaround at Thursday’s shootaround. Fred VanVleet will continue to start in his absence while Leonard will be tasked with the heavy lifting on offense. Center Jonas Valanciunas (thumb) will miss at least another 3-4 weeks of action. He’s now three weeks removed from the procedure that was expected to sideline him for at least four weeks.
Toronto’s last victory in San Antonio was Dec. 28, 2007 (83-73). The Raptors are currently 11-4 versus the Western Conference, including 7-2 on the road.
Why Bet on San Antonio?
The Spurs are just a hugely better team at home and beat the visiting Celtics 120-111 on Monday. DeMar DeRozan reached double figures in assists for the second time this season Monday, racking up 11 while also tallying 13 points (6-of-18 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), seven rebounds and two steals. DeRozan, who prior to Monday last reached double figures in assists back on October 22 vs. the Lakers (14), is averaging 7.0 assists per game over the last five.
The Celtics had no answer for LaMarcus Aldridge as he tallied 32 points (13-of-23 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), nine rebounds, five assists, one steal, and two blocked shots. After accounting for 15 points and six rebounds in the first half, Aldridge tallied another 17 in the game’s final 24 minutes.
Derrick White played 28 minutes Monday, finishing with 22 points (8-of-9 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), three rebounds, three assists, one steal, one blocked shot and two 3-pointers. White has reached double figures in three consecutive games for the first time since November 30 – December 4, and the eight field goals made Monday night represented a career-high. Over the last three games, the second-year guard is averaging 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.3 three-pointers per game.
Pau Gasol (foot) corralled five rebounds in five minutes Monday. Gasol (foot) was activated Friday ahead of the Spurs’ game against the Nuggets, but he would wait for two more games before making his first appearance since early November.
Gregg Popovich was not optimistic when asked of Rudy Gay’s (sore left wrist) chances of suiting up for Thursday’s game. If Gay is unable to play again, Jakob Poeltl could be looking at another start. Poeltl came over with DeRozan this past offseason in the Leonard trade from Toronto.
Raptors vs Spurs NBA Week 12 Betting Trends
- Raptors are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in San Antonio
- Raptors are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto’s last 6 games
- Raptors are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
- Spurs are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games
- Spurs are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of San Antonio’s last 12 games
Expert NBA Betting Prediction
Spurs win by around 5. Give the points.
