The Toronto Raptors have the second-best point differential in the Eastern Conference but only the fourth best record. They do not want to possibly face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs, and need to make a move to catch the Wizards for third place before it’s too late.
The margin for error is thin as the season hits its final stretch and the Raptors must take care of business this week against the Chicago Bulls. Toronto is the home team and the Bulls are dealing with some injury issues as they have fallen out of the playoff seedings.
Chicago is reeling and if the Raptors can get ahead early it could be enough to make the Bulls fold in this one. The Raptors should be pretty substantial favorites in this matchup.
This war on the floor will go down Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at 7 p.m. ET at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Canada. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds available for this and every game on the NBA Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Raptors are 40-29 straight up and 37-31-1 against the spread. They have played 34 home games this season and have gone 18-15-1 against the spread in those matchups. Toronto is 25-23 against the spread as the favorite and will be giving points once again in this one.
The Bulls are 33-37 straight up and 34-36 against the spread. They have gone on the road 35 times this season and have covered in 17 of those attempts. They are 22-18 against the spread as the underdog on the season.
Injury Report
The Bulls will be without shooting guard Dwyane Wade for the rest of the season as he suffered a small fracture in his elbow in a recent game. Wade may be able to return for the playoffs if Chicago makes it there, but his absence means that likely won’t happen.
The Bulls don’t have a very good offense and Wade was one of its better scorers. He finishes the regular season averaging 18.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Wade was brought in to serve as a 1-2 punch alongside Jimmy Butler, and while he had a nice statistical season, he is no longer among the best players in the NBA.
Butler already leads the team in scoring but will asked to do even more with Wade no longer available to help him out. It will also result in more opportunities for some of the younger players who previously couldn’t get on the court for long stretches.
Key Stat
Two. That’s how many games Toronto sits behind the Wizards for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors made it to the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago but would be hard-pressed to duplicate that if they finish as the No. 4 seed since it would mean a possible matchup with the Cavs in the second round.
The Raptors have one of the best defenses among the Eastern Conference contenders but haven’t always taken care of business in close games this season. Toronto has been good at home this season, which should help buoy it in this critical matchup.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Bulls are only a couple games out of the postseason picture but have struggled of late and figure to be worse without Wade in the lineup. There are a lot of teams vying for the final two spots still and Chicago seems unlikely to grab hold of one without Wade.
The Raptors still believe they can make a run in the postseason but it would greatly behoove them to catch the Wizards. Toronto should have little problem rolling to the victory in this one.
NBA Odds: Raptors 107, Bulls 97
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