San Antonio Spurs vs. Toronto Raptors Preview
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto
When: Tuesday, January 24, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
Line: San Antonio Spurs (-2.5) vs. Toronto Raptors (+2.5); total: 209.0– view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: NBATV
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Betting on the San Antonio Spurs (35-9)
Even a Spurs team that wasn’t on full strength was enough to decimate Eastern Conference doormat Brooklyn Monday, 112-86.
Playing without Kawhi Leonard, Pau Gasol, and Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs leaned on LaMarcus Aldridge and their stout bench to repulse the Nets. Aldridge led all San Antonio starters with 16 points, while the reserves combined for 59 points. With a prime showdown against an east power in Toronto later tonight, expect Leonard to be on the floor of Air Canada Centre.
Leonard sat out the Brooklyn game because of a sore left hand but it’s doesn’t look serious enough to make him miss another contest. Leonard has been an unstoppable force for the Spurs of late, averaging 36.4 points on 56.5 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in his past four games.
Leonard had 25 points in a decisive 110-82 home win over Toronto on Jan. 3. Aldridge, meanwhile, scored 23 points.
The Spurs could be catching Toronto at a good time with the Raptors’ defense currently in shambles, giving up at least 113 points in each of their last two games. The Spurs outscored Toronto in the shaded area in the previous meeting, 44-32, and went 13-for-24 from deep.
San Antonio, which is second in defense with 98.9 points allowed per contest, is 8-2 SU and 5-4-1 ATS in its last 10 games against the Raptors.
Betting on the Toronto Raptors (28-16)
A 94-89loss to Philadelphia last week must have demoralized the Raptors, who’ve lost two-straight games since. The Raptors saw their scoring dip and their defense slip the past three games, wherein they’ve averaged just 90.0 points and gave up 107.7.
The Raps were last seen taking a 115-103 home loss to Phoenix on Sunday with the Suns shooting 50.6% from the field and outscoring Toronto both on the transition (24-15) and in the paint (52-36)—not the best way to prepare for a marquee matchup with a title contender like San Antonio.
In any case, the Raptors will hope for a much better performance from Kyle Lowry in the rematch with Toronto. Lowry went 2-for-9 from the floor (0-7 3FG) across 32 minutes in the earlier meeting with San Antonio. There would be added pressure on Lowry to come up with a great game later tonight with backcourt partner DeMar DeRozan declared out for at least the next two games after spraining his ankle against the Suns.
Lowry should get help from Terrence Ross, who’ll be happy to orphan shots from DeRozan’s absence. Ross provided 17 points in 25 minutes off the bench the last time out against San Antonio. Ross is averaging 9.4 points on an ugly 37.0 FG%, though, in his past five outings.
Toronto is 2-1 SU and ATS in its last three home games against the Spurs.
Writer’s Prediction
San Antonio wins, 112-108.
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