These are the pro basketball lines for tonight’s Toronto Raptors versus Brooklyn Nets game at Barclays Center, brought to you by SBG basketball gambling online sportsbook:
Raptors -11 (-115) 227 (-110) -800
Nets +11 (-105) 227 (-110) +575
Pro Basketball Lines on The Raptors
The Raptors are likely to start the quintet of Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll, Lucas Nogueira, and Jonas Valanciunas. The latter has been tearing up the pea patch as of late, posting 23 rebounds against the Celtics last week, 10 against the Nets, and 16 against New York.
In addition to his rebounding skills, Valanciunas had double digits in two other categories. Moreover, DeRozan averaged 30.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three wins last week, earning player of the week honors for the third time this season. Becoming the first Toronto player to be PoW more than two times.
Raptors favorites for a good reason
The Raptors are basketball gambling favorites here with reason. They have defeated the Nets six consecutive times, most recently on Friday at Air Canada Centre. On Sunday, Toronto pretty much settled the game versus the Knicks in the second and third quarters. With two scoring onslaughts that led both head coaches to bench their starters early.
Of the aforementioned starting five, only Nogueira played in the fourth quarter, and none of the rest played more than 28 minutes. This allowed guys like Terrence Ross, Norman Powell, and Cory Joseph to get more playing time than they’re used to.
The Nets
And now for the pro basketball lines underdog, the Nets’ probable starting lineup is Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, Bojan Bogdanovic, Trevor Booker, and Brook Lopez. The latter will be the Raptors’ single biggest concern tonight, especially as he will be well rested having been given Sunday off. Lopez averages 21.4 career points per game versus Toronto, as well as 29.3 last season.
Valanciunas will have his hands full with Lopez, but collectively the Nets leave much to be desired. Brooklyn has lost as many games in January alone as they have won the entire season. Their losing streak (0-10) dates back to late December. Furthermore, the Nets were last in the NBA in points allowed per game at 114.9 through Sunday. Brooklyn allowed 120 or more points for the 12th time in their 112-137 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
Efective Nets Defense
The bottom line is, the Nets’ defense is about as effective as trying to hold water with a net. The Raptors’ offense has already exposed Brooklyn’s rickety defense, and while basketball gambling experts would be hard pressed to name a team that hasn’t done that, Toronto in particular ranks first in offensive efficiency, and seldom do they turn the ball over.
Lowry and DeRozan can create opportunities for themselves just as easily as they can create chances for their teammates, so unless the Nets learn to develop Hubert Ausbie’s ability to multiply himself, they will be find themselves in deep trouble. All things considered, the Raptors will likely live up to the pro basketball lines and Brooklyn will continue to spin out of control.