Free NBA Pick: Hornets vs. Raptors NBA Odds
Looking for Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Hornets taking on the Raptors on Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 at Scotiabank Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Hornets Raptors matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(26-21) Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors (22-22)
Date: Tuesday, January 25th
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: Bankers Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
NBA Moneyline Odds: Hornets +115 | Raptors -141 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Raptors -2.5
NBA Betting Total: 221.5
Tuesday, January 25th the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors meet for the first time this season.
Both teams played on Sunday with the Hornets losing 91-113 to the suddenly hot Hawks while the Raptors fell behind by 34 points in the first half, narrowed the margin to four points in clutch time but lost 105-114.
Charlotte Hornets
Prior to Sunday, the Hornets were on a roll having won seven of their last eight matches and beaten elite teams with the last two losses to the lower-tier Magic and Hawks.
While the loss to the Magic could have been written off as an outlier the shellacking they suffered on Sunday to the Hawks denotes they still haven’t established a defensive identity and can be lured into the track meet sessions versus other offensive squads.
Instead of trying to lock down the Hawks, they fell into their penchant for run and gun but were ice cold from deep missing all 16 attempts from deep in the first half, and finished the game hitting only 4 of their 36 attempts (11.1%).
LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges led the way for Charlotte with 19 points each while Oubre Jr. scored 12 as the only other double-figure scorer prior to his ejection.
Gordon Hayward (foot) and Jalen McDaniels (ankle) are both questionable for Tuesday.
Toronto Raptors
Not having any fans in the arena is starting to take a toll on the Raptors or at least that seemed to be a subtle implication by head coach Nick Nurse in the post-game media session. Although he didn’t blame the loss on that fact, it’s clear the team is feeling slighted as the only team having to deal with this adversity.
This situation as Nurse put it so succinctly “sucks” because the Raptors have one of the loudest arenas and supportive fan bases so having to generate their own energy is taking a toll.
One habit the Raptors need to break is coming out fully prepared for the best teams in the association and seeming to have a hard time channeling the same effort versus teams in the lower tier.
That bit them in the … (well you know) on Sunday as the Blazers held Toronto to its lowest first-quarter (15) and first-half (34) scoring of the season. Despite a 71-50 second half and cutting the lead to four points with 1:24 remaining it was too little too late.
Khem Birch (fractured nose) and David Johnson (quarantine) are questionable.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Raptors are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 games.
- The Hornets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Toronto’s last 8 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Charlotte’s last 8 games.
Free Charlotte Hornets vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Prediction:
The Raptors have a tendency to bounce back after embarrassing losses. Case in point, on the seven occasions they’ve lost by 15 or more points they won five of the following games including three times on the second game of a back-to-back.
Moreover, one of the two losses was the infamous game in Cleveland where four of the participants met on the bus on the way to the arena.
Yet, it’s not a given Toronto will easily defeat the Hornets as their strengths could cause the Raptors issues such as strong perimeter shooters. Conversely, the Hornets don’t have quality big men to deal with so that opens the paint for the Raptors.
One thing is certain – both teams feast in specialty categories. Toronto ranks second in (POT) points off turnovers (19.1) and (SCP) second-chance points (16.7) plus third in (FBS) fast break scoring (15.3) while Charlotte is fourth (18.8), 14th (13.4), and second (15.6) in those areas plus rank fourth in (PIP) paint scoring (49.4).
The big difference is Toronto also ranks high defensively in these categories – fourth (POT), third (FBS), and sixth (PIP) but are 26th in (SCP) mostly due to being terrible defensive rebounders. In contrast, the Hornets rank 14th (POT), 30th (SCP), 26th (FBP), and 17th (PIP).
Historically, these teams have played a bunch of close competitive games with crazy finishes and I’m torn on which way to lean so I’m giving the Hornets the edge on the spread whereas I’m giving the fan-less home team the victory.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Hornets +2.5
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