Raptors vs. Pelicans Spread Prediction
The Raptors have won seven of their last 10 games but they’re also 2-8 against the spread over that span, which includes a home loss to the Rockets as a favorite on Tuesday. Will Toronto rebound tonight in New Orleans where it will take on the Pelicans at 8:00 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot
559 Toronto Raptors at 560 New Orleans Pelicans
8:00 p.m. ET, Friday, March 8, 2019
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Our NBA Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook BetNow.eu, the Raptors are 4.5-point favorites to beat the Pelicans. The total, meanwhile, sits at 232.5 points and as of this writing, 66% of the public betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Raptors to cover the point spread.
Toronto Raptors Fantasy Spin
Kawhi Leonard returned from a day of rest and hit 10-of-22 shots and a 3-pointer for 26 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal in 36 minutes of Tuesday’s 107-95 loss to the Rockets. He’s healthy, but the Raptors haven’t been afraid to rest him this season, whenever they deem necessary. The Raptors have lost two straight and are now 2.5 games behind the No. 1 seeded Bucks in the East. The Raptors have a back-to-back this Sunday and Monday, and then again on March 17 & 18, which is their last one of the season. Ideally, Leonard only misses two games down the stretch, but if the Raptors end up locking into the No. 2 seed and don’t have anything to play for late in the season, it’s possible Leonard could be rested more as the regular season winds to a halt.
New Orleans Pelicans Fantasy Spin
Anthony Davis had 16 points (6-of-12 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 21 minutes on Wednesday. Davis continues to play right around 20 minutes per game and that’s been enough for top-30 value in most formats — it’s a reminder of his otherworldly upside. Assuming he’s not shut down at some point, New Orleans’ light schedule down the stretch could benefit him. With just one remaining back-to-back set, on Mar. 15/16, Davis might only have a handful of DNPs. It’s the tightrope his fantasy owners have been forced to walk due to his awkward midseason trade demand.
NBA Betting Trends
Toronto
The Raptors have lost eight of their last nine games at the betting window and are 4-12 against the spread in their last 16 road games.
New Orleans
The Pelicans have covered the spread in five of their last seven games overall and are 5-0 ATS in their last five games coming off a double-digit loss at home.
Prediction
There’s value here in the home dog, even though the Pelicans failed to cover at the Smoothie King a few nights ago in a 114-104 loss to the Jazz. The Raptors have lost back-to-back games versus the Pistons and Rockets while also dropping three out of their last five games overall. Thus, their 7-3 record over their last 10 games is a bit misleading. Meanwhile, before losing to Utah on Wednesday, the Pelicans had won three in a row. They turned the ball over 18 times in the loss to the Jazz so if they merely take better care of the ball and allow a struggling Raptors team to make the mistakes, I like the Pelicans to keep the final score within the 4.5 points.
Friday NBA Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans +4.5