The Toronto Raptors’ long hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference is being challenged by the Bucks, as both teams desperately want home court advantage for as much of the playoffs as possible.
The Raptors need to keep winning and will aim to do so in a tough road matchup this week against the San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio is with a glut of teams all jockeying for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, and a victory here could be a big boost at the end of the year.
Toronto has the superior team but the Spurs have the home court advantage, so this could be a fun and close showdown in NBA wagering.
This NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs will be held at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 3rd, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on TNT.
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Odds Analysis
The Raptors have not been dominant of late and thus have been tracked down by the Bucks. Toronto is still a solid 27-11 on the year and figures to be in contention for the best record in the NBA all season. The Raptors have really done a nice job on the road with a 13-7 mark, which is tough to do in hostile environments.
The Spurs have a record of 20-17 on the season. They are currently on the outside looking in at the playoffs but are within a couple games of multiple teams ahead of them. The landscape changes daily and the Spurs just need to keep putting wins together. San Antonio is 14-5 at home on the year.
Matchup To Watch
Kawhi Leonard vs. DeMar DeRozan -- These two players were traded for each other in the offseason. The Spurs didn’t want to get rid of Leonard but he was unhappy in San Antonio and forced his way out. He is having a great season with Toronto, averaging 26.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Leonard also plays elite defense on the other side of the court.
DeRozan may not be quite the player of Leonard, but he was not a bad consolation prize. He leads the Spurs in scoring at 23.1 points per game and assists at 6.2. DeRozan is also adding 5.6 rebounds per game and no doubt will have motivation to play well in this one against his former team.
The Raptors had to make the trade from a basketball standpoint but DeRozan was hurt by the decision and he could be a key in helping the Spurs win this one.
Injury Report
Spurs forward Pau Gasol has missed much of this season with a foot injury but should be available for this game. He is only averaging 6.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in limited action this season, but those numbers figure to go up. He is also a key passer from down low and makes the San Antonio offense run smoother. It is a big help for the Spurs to have Gasol back in the fold.
Raptors star point guard Kyle Lowry is dealing with some back issues and it is unclear if he will be available for this one. If not, that is a big blow for Toronto. Lowry is averaging 14.4 points and 9.8 assists per game on the year. If he doesn’t play, it could turn the Raptors from favorites to underdogs in this one.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Spurs are a tough team at home and well-coached. The Raptors have a formidable group but San Antonio is going to do everything in its power to shut down Leonard in his return to San Antonio. If Lowry cannot play, the Raptors will be a bit short on firepower.
This one could be an excellent contest. The Spurs are the pick to come away with the win in NBA gambling.
NBA ATS Pick: San Antonio Spurs 109, Toronto Raptors 107
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