Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors 4/14/18, Prediction & Odds

Wizards vs. Raptors Prediction

The Toronto Raptors dominated at home this season on their way to the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Are the Raptors going to continue to roll at the Air Canada Centre this evening when they host the Washington Wizards in Game 1 of the first round?

Game Snapshot

503 Washington Wizards at 504 Toronto Raptors

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Air Canada Centre at 5:30PM ET

TV: ESPN

According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Raptors are an 8-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 208 points. As of Saturday morning, 53 percent of public bets are on the visiting Wizards. Check out our NBA Public Betting Page for all up-to-date information.

Raptors enjoy big home-court advantage

Getting the No. 1 seed in a conference has plenty of benefits, but having home-court advantage tops them all. Toronto is as good as any team at home as it sported a 34-7 straight up mark at home this season, while going a still respectable 25-16 on the road. Meanwhile, Washington was an average 20-21 on the road. The season series was split this season 2-2 straight up and ATS, while Washington does actually have a straight up win in Toronto back on Nov. 5. There are two ways to look at this. 1) Toronto is an awesome home team and is motivated to prove naysayers wrong after their postseason struggles in recent seasons. Or 2) The postseason pressure will get to them again and Washington will take full advantage.

Wall in prime form

Wizards star point guard John Wall missed exactly half the season with a knee injury and even missed two of the final three games to rest his ailment. But in the sandwich game, he torched the Celtics in a 113-101 home victory. He tallied 29 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals to lead the way. He also registered his 5,000th career assist in the win. For the season, Wall put in 19.4 points to go with 9.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. If Wall is on top of his game against Toronto, WAshington will be an eighth seed to be reckoned with.

Washington

The Wizards are 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games. Washington is 5-1 ATS in its last six Saturday games. The Wizards are 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings in Toronto.Toronto

Toronto

The under is 12-2 in the last 14 meetings in Toronto. The under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings. The Raptors are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games following a straight up loss.

Prediction:

The Raptors could very well play tense basketball and struggle throughout this game, but I just don't see it happening. There are probably a lot of bets being made on Washington just because Toronto supposedly can't be trusted in the playoffs. There is history there, but that's all it is - history. The future doesn't have to follow the same script and if Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan can be on the same page, Toronto will show why it was the Eastern Conference's best. This is the best Raptors team to date with a strong starting five and a long slew of important role players. Go with the hosts to get their playoff season started on the right track.

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO RAPTORS -8