Clippers vs Raptors Picks and Predictions: Injury Woes Sink Clips

The Toronto Raptors are likely happy to put 2021 behind them. After a season spent in Tampa Bay, a good start this season has been derailed by injuries and a COVID outbreak.

But the Raps will try to put all that behind them when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on New Year’s Eve. But the Clippers have their own injury and COVID issues, making the Raptors a 7-point home favorite.

Can Toronto cover the home chalk? Find out in our free NBA betting picks and predictions for Clippers vs. Raptors on December 31.

Clippers vs Raptors odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

The Raptors hit the board as 6.5-point favorites for this New Year’s Eve matchup and they have seen the early action, bumping the line up to 7. The total has held fairly steady at the opening number as 210.5 as of Friday afternoon.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Clippers vs Raptors predictions

• Prediction: Raptors -6.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 210.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Ibaka Under 11.5 Points (-110)

Predictions made on 12/31/2021 at 1:20 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Clippers vs Raptors game info

• Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
• Date: Friday, December 31, 2021
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: BSSC, Sportsnet

Clippers vs Raptors betting preview

Injuries

Clippers: Reggie Jackson PG (Questionable), Paul George SF (Out), Nick Batum SF (Out), Ivica Zubac C (Out).
Raptors: Khem Birch C (Questionable), Precious Achiuwa C (Questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Raptors are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games at home. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Raptors.

Clippers vs Raptors picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

It appears that the Raptors are finally getting over their COVID outbreak. One game after getting Pascal Siakam, and Gary Trent Jr. back, it now sounds like Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes should all be available for this matchup against the Clippers.

You could tell in the Raptors' last loss to the 76ers that head coach Nick Nurse was happy to get some of his rotational pieces back and Toronto held its own despite being shorthanded. While they came up short in that game, they only lost by five points, covering the 6-point spread.

The Raps' biggest problem in that game was keeping Joel Embiid in check, but that could be remedied with the additional return of centers Khem Birch and Precious Achiuwa. So, before you know it, the Raptors could be back to full strength. Something that you haven’t been able to say about them much this season. And certainly not something you can say about the Clippers right now.

Already down Kawhi Leonard for the season, Paul George suffered an elbow injury that will keep him out until the middle of January at the earliest. On top of that, the Clips are missing key rotation pieces in Ivica Zubac and Nicolas Batum. Reggie Jackson is also questionable to play after recovering from COVID.

Despite snagging a win against an also depleted Boston Celtics team, scoring has been a problem for the Clippers over this latest stretch. They are scoring just 100.3 points per game over the last seven games, where they are 2-5 straight up and 3-4 ATS.

With the Raptors getting healthy and playing well at home, we’re leaning towards backing them in this spot against a Clippers team that will be shorthanded once again. Grab a 6.5 while you can.

Prediction: Raptors -6.5 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

The total has seen little action to this point, but my gut reaction has me leaning towards the Under.

Even though the Raptors are getting healthy, that doesn’t mean they are all of a sudden going to become some sort of offensive juggernaut. This team ranks 14th in offensive rating but just 20th in scoring, putting up 106.2 points per game while ranking 24th in shooting percentage. 

And while they are known for causing turnovers and getting out and running in transition when they are in their halfcourt offense, they milk the shot clock for all its worth. To the point where the Raptors rank 26th in the NBA in pace. 

On top of that, while the Clippers are having issues getting buckets, they still hang their hats on defense, ranking fourth in the Association in defensive rating and seventh in opponent field goal percentage. With the Clippers coming in at 16th when it comes to pace, the Under looks like the way to go with the total.

Prediction: Under 210.5 (-110)

Best bet

Serge Ibaka makes his return to Toronto! 

The Mafuzzy Chef is playing his first game back at Scotiabank Arena since signing a free-agent deal with the Clippers back in the 2020 offseason. Ibaka was a key member of the Raptors’ 2019 championship team but his career has been riddled with injuries since coming to L.A.

Ibaka is back now and sportsbooks are expecting a big game from the power forward in his return to The Six setting his point total at 11.5. And we’re not exactly sure why.

Ibaka is back, but he is averaging just 16.7 minutes per game over the last five games and despite the depleted Clippers roster, he logged just nine minutes in the win over the Celtics. On top of that, he has gone Over this number just twice in his 16 games.

Setting this number this high just because he is coming back to Toronto seems absurd. Bet on a nice ovation from the crowd but not much else.

Pick: Serge Ibaka Under 11.5 Points (-110)

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