Free NBA Pick: Blazers vs. Raptors NBA Odds
Looking for Portland Trail Blazers vs. Toronto Raptors free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Blazers taking on the Raptors on Sunday, January 8th, 2023 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 Blazers-Raptors matchup.
2023 NBA Handicapping
(19-19) Portland Trail Blazers vs. Toronto Raptors (16-23)
Date: Sunday, January 8th
Time: 3:30 PM EST
Venue: Bankers Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
NBA Moneyline Odds: Blazers +138 | Raptors -148 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Raptors -3
NBA Betting Total: 226
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Sunday, January 8th, the Portland Trail Blazers, and Toronto Raptors meet for the first of two scheduled matches this season. Portland will host the second meeting on January 28th.
Both teams last played on Friday with Portland losing 99-108 to the Pacers while the Raptors are in a current back-to-back set having lost 108-112 to the Knicks.
Last season the clubs played twice with Portland winning both contests and holding a current five-game win streak versus Toronto although these matches are typically extremely competitive with four of those five wins by five points or less.
The Blazers hold the all-time record with 33 wins in 51 matches versus the Raptors.
*Editor’s Note: Statistics and rankings are current as of this writing, Saturday, evening, January 6th. Numbers may vary slightly entering games on Sunday, January 8th.
Portland Trail Blazers
It’s been a tough stretch for the Blazers who lost their third game in four outings and sixth of their last eight. The common denominator in the losses is fourth quarter and clutch time scoring – – or lack thereof.
On Friday, six Blazers scored in double-figures with Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons combining for 39 points and 12 assists while Josh Hart (12 points, 10 rebounds, plus eight assists) and Jusuf Nurkic (14 points, 19 rebounds) offered double-double efforts.
Portland had a five-point lead but was held scoreless from the field from 7:32 onward shooting 0-13 while scoring just four points at the line.
The Blazers are one of the few clubs that boast three 20-point scorers — Damian Lillard (27.1), Anfernee Simons (22.4), and Jerami Grant (22.3).
Portland averages 112.4 points per game ranking 19th while shooting 47.6% from the field and 37.9% from the perimeter ranking 12th and fifth respectively.
On defense, the Blazers allow 111.9 opponent points and shoot 47.2% from the field and 35.8% from the perimeter ranking 12th, 17th, and 15th respectively.
Gary Payton II (ankle) and Nassir Little (leg) are questionable for Sunday. Justise Winslow (ankle) is out indefinitely.
Toronto Raptors
For the second game in a row, the Raptors almost made an incredible comeback after struggling the majority of the match to score and displaying palpable on-court tension.
Equally concerning is the conduct of Fred VanVleet who has taken to the media to plead his case about touches and his diminished role. Every interview inevitably leads to him mentioning his All-Star appearance, leadership, or passive-aggressive digs at his younger teammates.
On the Old Man & the Three podcast, FVV stated games hinge on his ability to make shots once others fail. Not exactly leadership 101, nor something he ever heard his mentor Kyle Lowry utter about him even when he disappeared for an entire playoff series.
On offense, the Raptors score 111.0 points per game (26th) shooting 44.7% from the field (28th) and 32.4% from deep (30th). Defensively, the Raptors allow 111.3 opponent points per game ranking (11th) while shooting 48.6% (27th) from the field and 36.5% (24th).
Otto Porter Jr. (foot) is out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Blazers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games.
- The Raptors are 1-5 ATS in their previous 6 games.
- The Blazers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against Toronto.
- The Raptors are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games at home.
Free Portland Trail Blazers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA Prediction:
The oddsmakers keep favoring the Raptors which is odd given how poorly they’ve been performing of late.
The off-court power struggle seems to have seeped onto the hardwood and the only question is whether Masai Ujiri is set on blowing up the team to rebuild around Barnes or will simply move one or two of the vets (VanVleet?) with more of a roster shift in mind.
Either way, it feels like Toronto is past the point of turning things around. In contrast, the Blazers are in the Wild Wild West where any team could conceivably end up in the Conference Finals but they need to fix those fourth-quarter scoring struggles.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Blazers +3
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