It will be a battle between two of the worst teams in the NBA when the Toronto Raptors host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. The Raptors come in at 13-32, third-to-last in the Eastern Conference. However, they have suddenly found some form with a 5-1 record in their last six overall and a current three-game winning streak. Following a 5-1 stretch of their own in mid-January, the Pelicans have since dropped two in a row while falling to 12-34.
With Monday’s game getting underway at 7:30 PM ET, it’s time to break down the matchup and discuss the best bets to make.
- RAPTORS +1.5 (-112)
- UNDER 233 (-108)
- YVES MISSI OVER 7.5 POINTS (-135)
PICK #1: Raptors +1.5 (-112)
Break up the Raptors! Over their last six games, they have knocked off the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks (twice). All four of those teams could be going to the playoffs. Three of Toronto’s last four contests have come on the road, but now it returns home – where it is 10-13 this season compared to 3-19 on the road. Immanuel Quickley remains sidelined due to a hip injury, but the Raptors’ entire hot streak has come without his services (the former Kentucky star has not played since January 11).
The Pelicans won the final three games of a recent homestand, but they went on the road last week and lost both of their games against the Memphis Grizzlies (by 13 points) and Charlotte Hornets (by 31 points). That trend is nothing new for New Orleans; this team is 8-16 at home and 4-18 away from the Smoothie King Center. Dejounte Murray (17.5 PPG, 7.6 AST, 6.5 REB) missed Saturday’s contest because of a finger injury and is questionable for Monday.
PICK #2: Under 233 (-108)
Toronto has been putting the clamps down on defense of late. Head coach Darko Rajakovic’s crew has limited opponents to 97 points or fewer in three of its last five outings. It also held Golden State to 101 points.
That kind of defense commitment is why the Raptors are currently enjoying success, as their offense has generated more than 112 points just twice in the last six games. Quickley is averaging 16.2 ppg, so his absence hurts in the scoring department. Meanwhile, New Orleans finished with an anemic 92 points at Charlotte this past weekend.
PICK #3: Yves Missi Over 7.5 Points (-135)
Missi has posted double-digit point totals in three consecutive contests. New Orleans’ 6’11’’ center is shooting 62.5 percent from the floor in January, his best monthly average of the season so far.
He has made 15 of 21 field-goal attempts over the past four games. In the previous head-to-head matchup with Toronto, Missi scored 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting to go along with a 5-for-8 effort from the free-throw line. The Raptors are No. 22 in the NBA in points in the paint allowed (48.7), so this should be another nice opportunity for Missi to do some damage.
