After decisively besting the Indiana Pacers 118-100 on Wednesday night, the Toronto Raptors look for another W to move them over .500 on the young season.
The Raps pestered the Pacers and completely controlled the game, leading by double digits most of the night. Nick Nurse's young squad looked better than advertised, and is looking like a serious threat on the defensive end.
Find out if Toronto is up for a repeat performance on the road as we break down our Raptors vs Pacers picks for Saturday, October 30.
Raptors vs Pacers odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Indiana opened as a -2.5 favorite, and was bet up to -3.5, then back down to opening. The total has shifted down to 213.5 from 215.5.
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.
Raptors vs Pacers predictions
Predictions made on 10/30/2021 at 10:10 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Raptors vs Pacers game info
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Date: Saturday, October 30, 2021
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Sportsnet, BSIN
Raptors vs Pacers betting preview
Injuries
Raptors: Pascal Siakam PF (Out), Yuta Watanabe PF (Out).
Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon PG (Doubtful), Caris LeVert SG (Out), T.J. Warren SF (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Pacers.
Raptors vs Pacers 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's weird to see Indiana favored here after how soundly Toronto tuned them just a few nights ago. With every passing game, the Raptors' unconventional, rangy, ultra-switchable defensive swarm is flashing less potential, and more promise.
Malcolm Brogdon was the only Pacer able to create shots in the first half, and when he left the game with a hamstring injury, the writing was on the wall. Brogdon's status for this game is listed as doubtful, and if he's not playing, Indiana might not have much hope.
The Raptors swarmed Domantas Sabonis like a plodding brontosaur, their long-limbed flood holding him to a season-low nine points, season-low eight rebounds, and almost-season-low three assists. Sabonis is crafty and will likely find ways to eke out more production tonight, but man, did this ever look like a bad matchup for him at first glance.
The Raptors are switchable enough to just throw a bunch of rangy, positionless defenders on the court, and Nick Nurse is an evil genius that will push the limits of conventional defense if it might stretch his team's ceiling. As gifted a coach as Indiana's Rick Carlisle is, he may not have the tools to crack this safe right now, especially if Brogdon sits.
Indiana just doesn't have the scorers if Brogdon can't create opportunities and Sabonis is limited. And Toronto's mining upside on offense while also creating a ton of easy buckets for itself off turnovers in transition.
This likely won't be another cakewalk for the Raptors, but with both teams coming off a back-to-back, spotting Toronto points here isn't advisable.
Prediction: Toronto +2.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The Raps and Pacers used a high-scoring fourth quarter in garbage time on Wednesday to sneak Over the 217.5 total by half a point, but we're not confident in a repeat performance.
Indiana just looked way too inept, outside of Brogdon, who was at least able to knife into the paint. Sabonis did little other than get tied up in the mid-post, and everyone else on Indiana's current roster is woefully underqualified as a go-to scorer.
Toronto's flex is clearly on defense, and while their half-court sets are slowly developing some synergy, the Raptors very regularly chew up the entire shot clock and play at the NBA's second-slowest pace.
With how tentative the Pacers looked in this matchup, it's tough to assume they'll be able to push the pace either. Indiana had to work for its buckets without Brogdon's creative probing, and Toronto probably feels very comfortable with the matchup right now.
The Raptors allow just 100.7 ppg this year, and Indiana managed just 98 against Brooklyn's passable-at-best defense last night. Given the trends and the possibly tired legs, take the Under here.
Prediction: Under 213.5 (-110)
Best bet
Scottie Barnes is pretty good at basketball.
Despite raising a few eyebrows when passing over Jalen Suggs to select him with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 Draft, the Raptors have proven yet again to have a keen eye for young talent.
Barnes has wasted no time asserting himself as one of the Rookie of the Year favorites, averaging 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds, while flashing a beyond-his-years basketball IQ on both sides of the ball. He's been a confident scorer both in transition and the halfcourt, frequently finding points off tip-ins and broken plays while flashing a nice mid-range touch. His dynamic skill set allows for him to play a multitude of roles, and even with Pascal Siakam's imminent return, Barnes figures to see heavy minutes.
For now, he's made the most of his starting role, and while the books are slowly hedging toward results, there's still value to be had in his points + rebounds prop. That number sits at 22.5, which Barnes has topped in four of his six games so far, averaging a combined 26 in the market.
Given Barnes' youth and massive upside, and the way Toronto seems to be developing more cohesion with every game, we're banking on Scottie to at least maintain his current clip, especially in a matchup the Raptors have seen and can feel confident against.
Pick: Scottie Barnes Over 22.5 points + rebounds (-112)
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