The Toronto Raptors (30-23) stop by Toyota Center Thursday to take on the Houston Rockets (15-39). Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Raptors vs. Rockets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Coming off a 19-point victory, 117-98 Wednesday at Oklahoma City, the Raptors have now covered 7 straight games and 8 of their last 10. They covered as 10.5-point favorites on the road against the Thunder.
The Raptors are one of just a handful of teams that rank top 13 in both offensive and defensive rating. Led by PF Pascal Siakam (21.6 points, 8.9 rebounds per game), the Raptors are 32-21 ATS on the season.
As for the Rockets, they’re trending in the opposite direction, having covered just once in their last 7 games. Houston is led by C Christian Wood, who averages 17.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
The Rockets are 22-31-1 ATS, the fourth-worst covering team in the NBA. They last played Tuesday, a 110-97 loss as 8.5-point road dogs at New Orleans.
Raptors at Rockets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Raptors -380 (bet $380 to win $100) | Rockets +290 (bet $100 to win $290)
- Against the spread (ATS): Raptors -7.5 (-115) | Rockets +7.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 224.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Raptors at Rockets key injuries
Raptors
- Not yet submitted; none projected
Rockets
-
SG Eric Gordon (heel) questionable
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Raptors at Rockets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Raptors 121, Rockets 110
Money line
PASS. I’d shy away from laying -380 on the Raptors on the road.
Against the spread
BET RAPTORS -7.5 (-115).
While this spread has the rest disadvantage for the Rockets baked into it, the Raptors have been playing too well lately to bet any other way.
Toronto has covered 7 straight, including 4 on the road. The Raptors are the league’s best-covering team with no rest, posting an 8-2 ATS record.
The big difference should be in extra-chance opportunities. The Raptors rank second in offensive-rebounding rate whereas the Rockets sit 20th in defensive rebounding.
Also, the Rockets have the league’s worst turnover rate given their young backcourt of SG Kevin Porter Jr. and SG Jalen Green. With a key scorer in Gordon potentially sitting, the experience may not be there either.
Combine it all, and the Raptors’ spread is the better option here.
Over/Under
LEAN to the OVER 224.5 (-108).
The Rockets play at the fastest pace in the NBA. With the Rockets having a high turnover rate, the Raptors have the experience to keep the pace high as well and score at will.
Both teams have been better this season hitting the Over as well.
The Rockets are 30-23-1 O/U and the Raptors are 30-23 O/U. In their last 10 games, the Raptors are 7-3 O/U, while the Rockets are 4-5-1 O/U.
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