The Toronto Raptors can pick up a defining early-season win if they can knock off NBA title favorites the Golden State Warriors. The two impressive teams will face off in a big-time regular season showdown.
Toronto finished as the No. 2 seed in the East a season ago and could be the top contender to the Cavaliers’ throne in the conference. The Warriors , Cavaliers and Spurs are generally thought of as the main three title hopefuls but a good game here could help Toronto push closer to that trio.
While the Raptors have won seven of their first nine games and play at home, they could still be underdogs since the Warriors have so much talent throughout the roster.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Air Canada Centre at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Wednesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Warriors are 8-2 to start the season and have won four consecutive contests. Golden State is 4-6 against the spread this season and has been favored in every matchup.
Golden State has a fantastic roster and should be favored in the vast majority of its games this season, so margin of victory will be a key in this one and the rest of the way.
The Raptors are 7-2 straight up and 5-3-1 against the spread. They have been good at covering on their home court and will aim to keep that going in this one.
Player to Watch
DeMar DeRozan - The Toronto shooting guard has always been a good player but took it to another level this season. He is averaging 34.1 points per game on the season, filling the bucket at a never-before-matched pace.
DeRozan is shooting 53.3 percent from the field and has added 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals per contest. DeRozan has scored more than 30 points in all but one game this season, and has hit 40 twice already.
The Raptors rely heavily on the backcourt of DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, and if DeRozan can keep up this pace, it should make Toronto the clear second best team in the East. He will likely be guarded by Klay Thompson, who does a solid job defensively.
Matchup To Watch
Stephen Curry vs. Kyle Lowry - The Warriors sharpshooter is averaging 26.9 points and 5.9 assists this season and recently set an NBA record for make 3-pointers in a game when he nailed 13 against New Orleans.
Curry is the reigning MVP and will likely get his share of points in this one, but Lowry won’t make it easy on him. Lowry is small but a good defender, and sticking with Curry is paramount.
On the other side of the court, Curry will need to hold his own. Lowry is averaging 17.5 points and 6.9 assists on the season, and while he doesn’t have the same talent as Curry, he is a good player who can have a big night.
Free NBA ATS Picks
While the backcourt matchup will be fun to watch, the Warriors have the big advantage in the frontcourt. Kevin Durant is scoring 27.6 points per game this season while Draymond Green is a key piece. Those two guys can’t be matched by anyone the Raptors send out there, which will be a problem.
Golden State has great high-end talent but also unbelievable balance, and seems to be finding its groove of late. This game should be a close one, since the Raptors have a good team and play at home.
The Warriors may be the favorites, but in the long run of the regular season, the best team doesn’t win every night. While the conventional thinking is to always take Golden State, this one could be ripe for an upset.
If DeRozan and Lowry play lights-out, it could be enough to lead the Raptors to a crucial early-season victory over the NBA title favorites. The odds make it worth it to pick Toronto.
NBA Odds: Raptors 109, Warriors 107
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