The Toronto Raptors capped their four-game road trip with yet another defeat as they were brushed aside by the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. They will look to return to winning ways later tonight when they square off with the Golden State Warriors who are coming off a humbling defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Read on below for a preview of this showdown between two playoff contenders and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of LA Clippers vs. Memphis and Minnesota vs. Chicago.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Golden State Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors Betting Preview
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto
When: Friday, February 27, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Golden State Warriors (pk) at Toronto Raptors (pk); total: 215.0 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Golden State Warriors
Golden State’s road trip isn’t going according to plan.
[sc:NBA240banner ]The Warriors stumbled to their second road loss in three games with a 110-99 defeat to the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday night. The Warriors simply had no answer for LeBron James who exploded for a season-high 42 points on 15-of-25 shooting.
Compounding the Warriors’ problems against the Cavs were the struggles of both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The Splash Brothers combined for just 31 points on a measly 33 percent shooting. Curry scored 18 points, but only had six markers after the first period, while Thompson only had 13 points on a salty 5-of-13 shooting night.
The Warriors’ 99-point tally is way below their season average of 110.2 PPG which is the highest mark in the NBA this season. It is crucial for Golden State to get Curry and Thompson going once again as they set the tone for the Warriors offensively. They lead the team in scoring this season, averaging 23.8 PPG and 22.3 PPG respectively.
The Splash Brothers will look to get their groove back when they take on the Raptors tonight. They will fancy their chances in doing just that as they have fared extremely well against Toronto in their lone meeting this season. Curry had 32 points and 12 assists while Thompson exploded for 20 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc in Golden State’s 126-105 win over Toronto last January 2.
The Warriors are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games.
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Betting on the Toronto Raptors
Toronto’s losing woes continued on Tuesday night as it suffered a 99-92 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. It was the Raptors’ third consecutive loss as they dropped down to 37-20 for the season, eight games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the Eastern Conference lead.
It was a disappointing defeat for the Raptors who blew a huge lead for the second game running. Days after letting an 18-point advantage slip against New Orleans, the Raptors collapsed again against the Mavericks, blowing a 13-point lead in the first half.
Toronto coach Dwane Casey blamed his team’s errors for their latest setback saying, “Turnovers were crucial, brutal and led to baskets.” The Raptors were careless with the basketball against the Mavs, committing a total of 18 turnovers. That’s way above their season average of 13.1 turnovers per game which is the sixth in the NBA this season.
That can be attributed though to fatigue setting in with the squad. Their meeting with the Mavs was their fourth road game in just five days. That proved costly against Dallas, though, as they scored 28 points off those miscues.
They can ill afford to repeat those same mistakes against Golden State tonight. The Warriors lead the league in points off turnovers this season, averaging 19.9 PPG. Fortunately for the Raptors, they will have enough time to rest and prepare for the Warriors as they are coming off a much-needed two-day break.
They will also have the added benefit of the game being played in their own home court. The Raptors are 3-0 in their last three games at Air Canada Centre with Toronto averaging 101.7 PPG in those contests.
The Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings with the Warriors at Air Canada Centre.
Writer’s Prediction
The Warriors edge past the Raptors, 104-100.
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