It will be a battle between Atlantic Division opponents when the Toronto Raptors (53-19) welcome the Brooklyn Nets (23-49) to Air Canada Centre. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 23, 2018, and will air on YES Network.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game opened at 221.5 points with Toronto set as a 12.5-point favorite.
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors Betting Prediction
The Nets are trying to rebound after their 111-105 loss to the Charlotte Hornets in their last matchup. Getting to the free throw line was one of Charlotte’s largest advantages. They made 47 trips to the line, while Brooklyn went just 21 times. D’Angelo Russell was Brooklyn’s leading scorer with 19 points on 7-for-17 shooting.
In the Raptors’ last matchup, they lost a close one to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 132-129. Cleveland was successful at getting and making free throws. The Cavaliers made 23 of their 28 free throws (82.1 percent), while the Raptors were 20-23 (87.0 percent). Kyle Lowry put together a good performance for Toronto, leading the team in scoring with 24 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
Toronto could have their way on the offensive side of the ball as their high-powered offense squares off against one of the NBA’s worst defenses. The Raptors rank fourth in offensive efficiency, while Brooklyn ranks 23rd in defensive efficiency.
Brooklyn has a solid record against the spread (40-31-1), despite being 23-49 straight up (SU). Vegas has typically been fairly accurate when predicting totals of Nets games, with 39 unders compared to 33 overs.
Meanwhile, Toronto owns records of 53-19 SU and 40-32 ATS. Unlike Brooklyn, just over half of Raptors games have finished over the projected point total.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert have played at a high level over the last five games for Brooklyn. Hollis-Jefferson has averaged 18.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Not to be outdone, LeVert has put up 14.0 points and 3.8 assists a game during that span.
The Raptors have emerged victorious in all three games against the Nets this year, including a 116-102 victory the last time these teams met. Toronto covered as a 9-point favorite and the game finished with a total of 218 points, which was just 1.5 points below the projected point total of 219.5 points. The Raptors had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (31.0 vs. 18.4) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.544 vs. 0.494). Jonas Valanciunas put up a double-double in the victory with 26 points and 14 rebounds.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Pick
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Raptors, ATS Winner – Raptors, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes:
On the road, Brooklyn is 23-13 ATS with 18 overs and 18 unders.
Toronto is 19-16 ATS at home with 18 unders and 17 overs.
Toronto is 25-5 when they hold opponents under 100 points, while Brooklyn is 12-1.
The Nets are 19-33 when they score above 100 points, while the Raptors are 49-12.
Toronto ranks second in blocks per game (6.0) while Brooklyn ranks 28th in blocks allowed per game (5.6).
The Raptors rank fifth in points off turnovers per game (17.8) while the Nets rank 29th (14.3).
Toronto ranks ninth in rebounds allowed per game (42.4) while Brooklyn ranks last (46.6).
The Raptors rank 12th in steals per game (7.9) while the Nets rank 29th (6.1).
Toronto averages 12.9 second chance points per game, which ranks 12th in the league. Brooklyn ranks 29th in second chance points allowed per game (13.7).
The Raptors average 48.4 points in the paint per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. The Nets rank 22nd in points allowed in the paint per game (46.5).
Toronto ranks third in three pointers attempted per game (32.9) while Brooklyn ranks first in three pointers allowed per game (24.5).
The Raptors average 13.7 fast break points per game, which ranks ninth in the league. The Nets rank 11th in fast break points allowed per game (11.1).
Toronto ranks sixth in assists per game (24.1) while Brooklyn ranks seventh in assists allowed per game (21.6).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, Brooklyn is 2-3 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
Toronto is 1-4 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders over their last five games.
The Nets’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 2.6, down from 4.1 for the season.
During their last five games, the Raptors have scored an average of 115.0 points per game (2.5 above their season average) and allowed an average of 112.8 points per game (8.8 above their season average).
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