NBA: Raptors vs Pelicans Predictions
NBA basketball betting sees the Toronto Raptors taking on the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday February 23 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Cappers Picks provides complimentary NBA handicapping picks all season long.
Toronto looks to get back on the right track after a bad loss to Houston. New Orleans is in the hunt and needs this one too.
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Toronto Raptors (37-18) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (28-27)
Monday February 23
8:00PM
Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA
NBATV
NBA Betting Opening Line: Toronto -5.5
NBA Betting Total: 196.5
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Toronto
The Raptors have played two games since the break, a brilliant win on the road against Atlanta followed by an ugly loss at Houston.
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The real level of this team is definitely somewhere in between those performances and I expect they will bounce back on Monday night in New Orleans. The last time these teams played the Pelicans closed strong to get a two point victory. After the gross loss I think there will be some value in Toronto evening the series. They might even be an underdog.
Against the Rockets the Raptors played uninspired basketball. It was the second game of a back to back on the road and they were without streak scorer Lou Williams but they also were just plain bad. James Johnson led the team with 27 points and this game was as much proof as any that he is better as a complementary player.
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Kyle Lowry has not been sharp in two games since the break. He needs to get over his All-Star hangover.
New Orleans
The Pelicans look like a long shot to make the playoffs this season. They are not far out of the 8th spot in the West but they are chasing two teams, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, that are in a much higher tax bracket than they are. It helps to have one of the best players in the league in Anthony Davis but he is questionable for this one. Without him this team looks pretty ordinary. Ryan Anderson is banged up too, making their frontcourt that much thinner. New Orleans has all the look of a fade team.
No Davis means more time for the likes of Dante Cunningham, Luke Babbitt and Alexis Ajinca, hardly a fearsome trio. In their recent win over Miami they got some good production from Eric Gordon but he is a streaky player you don’t want to have to rely on.
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The same goes for Tyreke Evans who takes way too many shots for a guy shooting only 43% on the season. I am not sure they have a player who can step up while Davis heals.
NBA Betting Trends:
Under is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 overall.
Under is 6-1 in Raptors last 7 games following a S.U. loss.
Raptors are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points.
Over is 5-0 in Pelicans last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Pelicans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.
Pelicans are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Raptors are 11-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings in New Orleans.
Raptors are 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
NBA Betting Prediction: Toronto -5.5
Toronto takes advantage of a weakened New Orleans squad to get the win on Monday.
NBA Score Prediction: Toronto 105 – New Orleans 95
Even at home this is just a bad spot for the Pelicans as the season begins to slip away.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
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