Toronto at Sacramento
Time: 10 PM ET, Feb 5, 2014
Spread: TOR -1
Total: 200
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Toronto Raptors are 26-22 and are currently seated third in the Eastern Conference. The team has been especially good on the road (14-12) and it will travel to Sacramento to face the Kings in a game NBA oddsmakers have favored the Raptors by one point.
Sacramento is the owner of the worst record in the West at 16-32, and the Kings have allowed 103.8 points per game. The Kings have lost eight of its past 10 games, as well, and for as potent as the team can be offensively, the defensive struggles have highlighted the list of reasons for the team’s struggles.
Sacramento did obtain the talented scorer Rudy Gay, but even matching him with DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas hasn’t produced success. All three are posting PERs over 21, but the Kings just can’t get stops.
Toronto, conversely, has a very stingy defense. The Raptors allow the fourth fewest points per game in the NBA (96.4). The Raps aren’t overly talented on the offensive end, but an average offense is producing 99.3 points per game, good for a +2.9 point differential.
DeMar DeRozan will be making his first All-Star appearance this year and the swingman is averaging 22 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. His offensive arsenal has become much more refined, which was why Toronto felt comfortable in ridding itself of Gay and his hefty contract.
Lowry has a legit All-Star snub case. The diminutive point guard is averaging 16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, and just flat out out-playing reserve selection Joe Johnson.
Jonas Valanciunas is still growing as a player and has been tough down low this year, averaging 10.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and nearly a block per game. Terrence Ross had an anomalous 50 point game and several highlight reel dunks, suggesting that his upside may be far higher than previously indicated.
TOR Trends: 7-1 ATS in last 8 games following SU win of more than 10 points; UNDER 6-1 in last 7 road games vs a team with losing home record; UNDER 6-1 in last 7 games following SU win of more than 10 points.
SAC Trends: UNDER 4-0-1 in last 5 overall; 9-1 ATS in last 10 games vs a team with a winning road record; 6-1 ATS in last 7 after allowing less than 75 points in previous game.
Head-to-head: Raptors 0-4 ATS in last 4 meetings; OVER 4-1 in last 5 meetings; Raptors 3-10 ATS in last 13 in Sacramento.
