The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers are inextricably linked thanks to the Kawhi Leonard trade this past offseason, along with the subsequent penalty that the Clippers suffered due to the Aspiration scandal surrounding Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer. As a result, both teams entered the season with very different expectations, and those preseason projections appear to be accurate. After winning their first two games, the Raptors have since lost three of their last four contests, while the Clippers are just 1-5 to start the campaign. Will Toronto bounce back or will Los Angeles pick up its second victory of the season on Monday?
The Raptors enter as 4.5-point favorites with the game total set at 219.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s get into my Raptors vs Clippers prediction and best bet for this matchup on Monday.
Raptors vs. Clippers Preview
Early returns were quite impressive for the new-look Raptors, as Toronto’s offense was humming in wins over the Bulls and Wizards. That was the real question surrounding Darko Rajokovic’s team since we know the Raptors defense is likely to be among the best in the Eastern Conference. However, things changed following yet another injury for Leonard, and he is expected to miss three to four weeks with knee swelling. Toronto would much rather have Leonard healthy and available for the playoffs, so this is not as bad of a setback as it could be, but the Raptors would obviously prefer to have their best player in the lineup.
Without Leonard, Toronto has turned to Scottie Barnes to lead the way and he’s been effective as the first option on the team. RJ Barrett has been a solid compliment with his scoring while Collin Murray-Boyles continue to impact the game with his defense and versatility. The Raptors defense wasn’t as sharp as they would’ve liked against the Timberwolves and Lakers, but those are two of the best offenses in the sport (ranked 7th and 2nd in offensive rating respectively) and represent a much tougher test than what Toronto will see on Monday.
As for the hosts, Los Angeles entered the campaign as a projected bottom-feeder and that is a popular prediction that should hold true as the season rolls along. The Clippers opened the season with a victory, but have since dropped five consecutive games, with three of those losses coming by double digits. There isn’t much hope for Ty Lue’s team at the moment, and things won’t get any easier for the 26th ranked offense against a Raptors side that is fifth in defensive rating. For the Clippers to have a chance of springing the upset at home, they must find a way to get over the hump offensively in this difficult matchup.
Raptors vs. Clippers Pick, Best Bet
This is a nice buy low spot on a Toronto team that has played a fairly difficult schedule over the last four games. The Clippers don’t pose nearly as much of a threat offensively, especially with Rui Hachimura and Derrick Jones Jr. set to miss Monday’s game due to injury. Ultimately, I’ll lay the short number with the Raptors on the road.