Free NBA Pick: Lakers vs. Raptors NBA Odds
Looking for Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Lakers taking on the Raptors on Friday, March 18th, 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 Lakers Raptors matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(29-40) Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors (39-30)
Date: Friday, March 18th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: Bankers Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
NBA Moneyline Odds: Lakers +355 | Raptors -338 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Raptors -9
NBA Betting Total: 225
Friday, March 4th the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors meet for the second and final time this season. The team’s just played on Monday in LA with Toronto winning 114-103.
Both teams last played on Wednesday with the Raptors finishing their six-game road trip versus the Clippers collecting a 103-101 victory to go 5-1 on their trip. The Lakers continue to spiral losing 124-104 to the Wolves who delighted in punking the team who gets the most shine in the NBA.
Last season, the teams played twice each winning on the other team’s court. The Lakers hold the all-time record having bested the Raptors in 29 of 50 matches although Nick Nurse is 6-0 versus LA since assuming the helm in Toronto.
Los Angeles Lakers
With the Lakers in free-fall they aren’t just getting hit by the media for their lackluster play and effort but opposing teams are starting to punk them in the middle of games.
With the Timberwolves well ahead in the match and the already existing rivalry between Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley, it wasn’t much of a stretch for the latter to take advantage of the Lakers guard while down and clearly struggling with his shot.
Karl-Anthony Towns also barked back at LeBron James following a somewhat physical play.
That speaks to how disliked the Lakers are. Not specifically any individual but consider how a team like the Wolves who rarely gets any national shine feels playing this version of the Lakers
What made the Wolves open mocking of Westbrook, snipping at LeBron James, and the Lakers, in general, is these teams could easily face each other in the first round of the play-in tourney.
LeBron James (knee) and Talen Horton-Tucker (ankle) are questionable Anthony Davis (ankle), and Kendrick Nunn (knee) are both out indefinitely.
Toronto Raptors
The five-game winning streak came at a perfect time as the Raptors have put themselves in a position to move up to sixth if they win this match and the Cavaliers lose to the Nuggets this evening.
Avoiding the play-in tournament is the goal and besides with the Nets seeded eighth and having so much talent no team wants to have to deal with them in a one-game tournament situation.
Although not on the injury report as of posting Fred VanVleet is nursing a sore knee that has been assessed prior to each game so he’s not a guarantee. Gary Trent Jr. had the flu and played through it versus the Clippers so there could be others who catch the virus and result in missing the game.
OG Anunoby visited the specialist while the team was in LA to discover his finger hasn’t fully healed as expected. He was going to participate in practice to determine the pain threshold prior to determining next steps (notably, he played with the finger like this for weeks).
He is questionable for Friday while Malachi Flynn (hamstring) is out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games.
- Toronto is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The Lakers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Toronto’s last 9 games.
- Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
- Raptors are 19-9 ATS in their last 28 games as a favorite.
Free Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Prediction:
Scottie Barnes single-handedly put the game away in the first quarter on Monday, outscoring the Lakers 15-12. While LA continues to struggle they should be feeling desperate and embarrassed by all the hype surrounding them.
First games back from lengthy road trips are often the most difficult to play but Toronto needs to push past that mindset especially with the potential to grab the sixth seed so close at hand.
Some believe James is only playing to collect enough games to win the scoring title and to keep moving up the all-time lists. He needs 56 points to pass Karl Malone on the all-time scoring list.
There is speculation he’ll rest in this game since LA play the Wizards Saturday and also to set himself up to pass Malone in the third game occurring in Cleveland. If James is out I like the Raptors to win and cover ATS but if he plays I think the Lakers will keep the score closer than nine points.
So if he does rest switch to Toronto covering.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Lakers +9
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