Tipping off as part of tonight’s six-game NBA slate, the Los Angeles Clippers will travel north of the border to face the Toronto Raptors.
This will mark the first of two matchups between these cross-conference opponents this year. Kawhi Leonard is plenty familiar with the city, as he was essential to leading the organization to their lone championship. However, the franchise hero will not be available tonight as he is listed as out with an ankle sprain.
Looking at the odds for tonight, the Raptors are 2.5-point favorites and hold -130 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Clippers are +110 underdogs with the game total set at 212.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Friday night matchup.
Clippers at Raptors Preview
It was an ugly start to the season for the Los Angeles Clippers, but they have built some momentum in recent games. The aging roster got off to a 6-21 start, but have won 11 of their last 13 to move to 17-23. This includes entering this matchup on a four-game winning streak. The Clippers have moved up to 11th place in the conference as a result. Los Angeles has gone 19-21 against the spread, and have gone under the total in 21 of its 40 games.
The driving force of this turnaround has been Kawhi Leonard returning to his All-Star level of play. The two-time Finals MVP is averaging 28.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while leading the NBA at 2.2 steals per game. This will mark his 11th game missed this season with the same ankle issue. In addition, John Collins and Ivica Zubac are questionable for tonight with ankle injuries of their own. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Derrick Jones Jr. and Bradley Beal remain sidelined.
James Harden has also continued to produce, posting averages of 25.6 points, 8.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. Rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser has shown some encouraging flashes in recent games, while Kris Dunn, Brook Lopez and Nico Batum serve their roles in the rotation.
The Clippers are averaging 112.2 points per game, which ranks 27th in the NBA. They rank 12th in offensive rating, ninth in field goal percentage, ninth in three-point percentage, and 28th in pace. Defensively, opponents are averaging 113.3 points per game against the Clippers, which ranks ninth in the NBA. Los Angeles also ranks 22nd in defensive rating, 13th in opponent field goal percentage, and 20th in opponent three-point percentage.
The Toronto Raptors have taken a notable leap forward as a franchise this year and have played themselves into the conversation with the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They enter the matchup with a 25-17 record, which slots them at fourth place in the East. Toronto defeated the Pacers in its previous game and has won five of its last seven entering tonight. On the season, the Raptors are 20-22 against the spread, and the game total has gone under in 26 of their 42 games.
Injuries continue to be a factor for the team, as RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Jamison Battle and Ja’Kobe Walter remain sidelined. In addition, Immanuel Quickley is doubtful and will likely miss his second straight contest, while Sandro Mamukelashvili holds a probable tag.
Scottie Barnes sets the tone for the team on both ends of the floor and has been an All-Star-caliber talent this season. The former Rookie of the Year is averaging 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists overall. Brandon Ingram leads the team in scoring with 21.9 points per game, along with 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists. There have been some encouraging flashes from Collin Murray-Boyles, especially of late, and Toronto has gotten good minutes from players like Jamal Shead and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
As a team, the Raptors are scoring 113.9 points per game, which ranks 23rd in the NBA. They rank 19th in offensive rating, 15th in team field goal percentage, 28th in three-point percentage, and 22nd in pace. Defensively, opponents are scoring the sixth-fewest points per game against them at an average of 112.1 points per game. Toronto also ranks fifth in defensive rating, seventh in opponent field goal percentage, and fifth in opponent three-point percentage.
Clippers at Raptors Prediction, Best Bet
Both these teams play at a slow pace in the half-court and expect points to be difficult to come by. The game total being set at 212.5 rightfully indicates this, and my lean is toward the under. This should be an old-fashioned style of basketball and scoring totals.
While it is intimidating to bet against the Clippers the way they have been playing, I am backing the Raptors to get the result and cover the 2.5-point spread. The absence of Kawhi Leonard is massive and changes the entire construction of the team. While James Harden is still capable of a throwback performance on occasion, this will not come easy against Toronto’s collection of wing defenders. Expect Scottie Barnes to take on the primary challenge and for his 6-foot-8 frame and impressive athleticism to make an impact on Harden.
Los Angeles lacks reliable creators outside of Harden, and the Raptors are much better suited to win this type of defensive grind. Also expect players like Barnes to make an effort to get out in transition at a greater rate and take advantage of the Clippers’ aging legs.
Los Angeles should still feel extremely positive about the turnaround they are in the process of, but this is a tough matchup for them. Youthful teams with size and athleticism are bothersome to their roster, and Toronto has made it a point to lean into this as their identity. With the home crowd behind them and no Kawhi Leonard in sight, count on the Raptors to continue their strong season by getting the result and covering the 2.5-point spread.
