The Toronto Raptors don’t roll off the tongue as a true title contender, but there’s no one playing better in the Eastern Conference. Toronto has surpassed the Boston Celtics for the best record in the East and is hoping to keep the No. 1 seed heading into the postseason. It has a big game coming up this week against the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards are in the middle of a bunch of teams jostling for position in the East. Washington has the home court advantage, which is key to keeping this game competitive since the Raptors are the more talented team. Toronto could be a slight favorite in this one but either way the spread figures to be small.
It will be interesting to see how this game turns out as the Raptors hope to continue establishing themselves as a true contender.
Don't miss the hardwood action from Capital One Arena at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 2, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
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Odds Analysis
The Raptors are 42-17 straight up and 33-26 against the spread. Toronto has covered in 16 of 29 attempts on the road this season. It is 25-23 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
The Wizards are 36-25 straight up and 30-31 against the spread. Washington has covered in only 11 of 29 attempts at home this season. The Wizards have gone 15-7 against the spread as the underdog on the season.
Key Stat
8.6. That’s the positive point-differential average for the Raptors this season, which is easily the best in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics are the second-best but their average point-differential is only plus-3.6.
The ability to consistently outscore opponents has generally been a better predictor of success than wins and losses, which bodes well for the Raptors in their quest to win the regular season Eastern Conference title and make a run in the playoffs.
The Celtics and Cavaliers still figure to be tough foes, but the Raptors have lined up as a strong team that should not be easily overlooked.
Player To Watch
DeMar DeRozan —A big reason for Toronto’s success has been the continued development of their star shooting guard. DeRozan is averaging 23.8 points, 5.2 assists and 1.1 steals per contest this season. He is shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three-point range.
DeRozan has scored at least 20 points in his past four games, including a 33-point, eight-rebound effort in a recent loss to Milwaukee. The NBA is a star-driven league, and that’s why a team like Cleveland with LeBron James can never be counted out.
DeRozan needs to close the season strong and then elevate his game even more in the postseason in order to turn the Raptors into a true contender.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Wizards are playing without star point guard John Wall but have weathered that storm and have remained competitive. Bradley Beal has been a big part of that and the Raptors will need to keep him under wraps. Washington could use this game badly as it battles multiple other teams in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff standings. They can realistically get as high as a No. 3 seed but can also slide several spots down.
This game should be close, but Toronto is the pick to come away with an important road victory. Take the Raptors to cover the spread in addition to winning this game. The “under” should be a consideration. Both teams have strong offenses but their defenses are also good, and if this game is close late it could slow down quite a bit.
NBA Odds: Raptors 108, Wizards 103
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