The Matrix Debut – Cavaliers at Toronto
King James, Cavs, Visit New-Look Raptors, Shawn ‘Matrix’ Marion
The Cleveland Cavaliers (40-11 SU, 33-18 ATS, 23-28 O/U) and Toronto Raptors (21-34 SU, 21-32-2 ATS, 31-24 O/U) kick off their post-all-star break contests by visiting a Toronto Raptors team that has underachieved immensely all season long, but recently acquired veteran forward Shawn ‘The Matrix’ Marion in a trade for former center Jermaine O’Neal.
Veteran sniper Mo Williams dropped a game-high 44 points and dished out seven assists while LeBron James added 26 points, six rebounds and six assist in leading the Cavaliers to a 109-92 victory over the Suns on Wednesday. Cleveland covered the 9-point spread while the 201 combined points played OVER the posted O/U total of 200 points.
The Raptors surprised the San Antonio Spurs in recording its 91-89 victory on Wednesday as 6.5-point home underdogs while the game’s 180 combined points played UNDER the posted O/U total of 189.5 points.
Blossoming forward Andrea Bargnani scored a team-high 23 points while reserve point guard Roko Ukic chipped in with 22 points and long distance sniper Jason Kapono added 21 points in the win.
Here is a look at tonight’s key betting trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Pick.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Cleveland is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing TorontoCleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland’s last 5 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto’s last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto’s last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Toronto is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Cleveland
NBA Odds:
Cleveland Cavaliers -7 -110
Toronto Raptors +7 -110
Over 189½ -110
Under 189½ -110
Analysis: I know the Cleveland Cavaliers are clearly the better team in this matchup and a likely participant in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals, but something tells me the Toronto Raptors are going to come out tonight with some fire in their bellies as they push the Cavs to the limit for the outright win while covering the spread in a narrow home loss.
Take the ‘new-look’ Raptors, with veteran forward Shawn Marion, to cover the spread while throwing everything but the kitchen sink at LeBron and Co.
