Toronto Raptors vs. New Orleans Pelicans Predictions, Picks and NBA Preview – March 8, 2017

Toronto Raptors vs. New Orleans Pelicans Preview

Where: Smoothie King Center— New Orleans, LA

When: Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 8:00 PM ET

Line: Toronto Raptors (+2) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (-2); total: 203.5 – view all NBA lines

TV Broadcast: FSNO / SN1

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Betting on the Toronto Raptors (37-26)

Point Spread: +2

Serge Ibaka is still adjusting with the Raptors who, at the same time, are trying to figure things out without their All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. They head to New Orleans having lost two of their previous three contests, including Saturday’s 101-94 loss at Milwaukee.

Toronto clearly had trouble in finding a flow overall, which is attested by the team’s turnovers (12), three-point shooting (7-for-21) and defense that allowed 41 second-quarter points to the Bucks. Then there was DeMar DeRozan’s own struggles, as well.

The savvy guard out of USC was limited to 11 points (5-of-13) and visited the charity stripe only once. DeRozan, who averages 27.6 points per game this season, is sixth in the league in free throw attempts per game (8.9). That ability to draw fouls is needed now more than ever, as the Raptors continue to multitask in integrating Ibaka to their system while playing without Lowry.

The Raps are 3-7 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 road games. They’re also 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS since Lowry was sidelined.

Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans (25-39)

Point Spread: -2

New Orleans shook the basketball universe when it landed DeMarcus Cousins right before the trade deadline, but as most expected, it hasn’t been an easy transition for the former Kings center. The Pelicans are just 1-5 with him and are 2-5 since the All-Star break (3-3-1 ATS), putting the team 4.5 games short of the final playoff spot in the west.

Both Cousins and Anthony Davis are still dominating the paint, averaging 53.0 points and 24.6 rebounds as teammates. There’s also Jrue Holiday, who’s posting close to 20 points per game this month, powering further the offense. But he was silenced in Monday night’s loss at Utah, going 1-of-9 from the field for four points.

The entire Pelicans actually had an off-night against Utah, which held them to a collective 30.3 FG% and forced 20 turnovers. New Orleans can take a bit of solace in its next matchup against a depleted and an also-adjusting Raptors team that’s given up 100-plus points in all but one of its previous five outings.

Writer’s Prediction

Pelicans (-2) win, 109-105.

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