A possible finals preview headlines Saturday’s NBA betting schedule when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the defending champion Toronto Raptors inside the bubble.
Los Angeles opened the seeding games with a big win over the rival L.A. Clippers Thursday, building an early lead and fending off a late push from the Clips for a 103-101 victory. As for the Raptors, this will be their first real game since March. Toronto went 2-1 in exhibition play.
These are our favorite NBA picks and predictions for Lakers vs. Raptors on August 1.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Toronto Raptors betting preview
Injuries
Lakers: Avery Bradley (Out), Rajon Rondo (Out)
Check out our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Raptors are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 meetings with the Lakers. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Raptors.
Against the spread pick
Transition defense was something the Lakers were trying to improve on heading into the seeding schedule and did a solid job slowing down the Clippers in that capacity Thursday.
However, L.A. is playing its second game back and the legs will feel a little heavier, especially against the top transition offense in the NBA. On the season, the Purple and Gold give up an average of 20.6 points in transition per contest – seventh-most in the NBA. That's a telling stat for a defense that sits second in points allowed on the season (106.8).
Toronto averages 28.3 points per game in transition and has a versatile lineup that matches up well versus the Lakers. The Raptors won their lone meeting with L.A. back in November, posting a 113-104 victory as 10.5-point road underdogs, and have played the Lakers tough the past two seasons.
In fact, the Raptors are 10-0 SU and 9-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings with L.A. going back to 2015.
PREDICTION: Toronto +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
If it wasn’t for a strong opening quarter versus the Clippers Thursday, the Lakers would have started the seeding schedule with a loss.
Los Angeles scored 35 points in the first 12 minutes, then managed only 68 points for the remainder of the game, finishing with a 39-percent shooting clip on the night. The Lakers did the bulk of their damage from the free-throw line, making 28 of 37 from the stripe, taking advantage of the Clippers' thin ranks in the interior.
Toronto is a premier NBA defense, allowing a league-low 106.5 points per game before the COVID-19 outbreak. The lockdown allowed the Raptors to rest up some key defenders and Toronto looked more aggressive on defense than most teams during the bubble scrimmages.
For what it’s worth, looking at those last 10 games again, the Under is a profitable 7-3 in the previous 10 matchups between Toronto and L.A.
PREDICTION: Under 217 (-110)
Player prop pick
Anthony Davis was the man on Thursday, posting 34 points on 8-for-19 shooting and dominating a depleted Clippers defense in the paint. Davis was able to get to the line and cash in 16 of his 17 freebies.
Davis faces a much tougher challenge on Saturday, with the likes of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka patrolling the paint for the defending champs. Gasol looked strong in the scrimmage games, coming into the restart mean and lean and healed from a lingering hamstring injury. Ibaka was even better in the exhibition games and will make Davis work on both ends of the court.
Toronto has the best post-up defense in the NBA and gives up just over 42 points in the paint per game on the season. AD is going to have to work for every bucket he gets on Saturday.
PREDICTION: Anthony Davis Under 25.5 points (-116)
Lakers vs Raptors betting card
- Toronto +3.5 (-110)
- Under 217 (-110)
- Anthony Davis Under 25.5 points (-116)
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