A busy night in the NBA playoffs: Knicks vs. Hawks, then the Raptors at home against the Cavs, and Nuggets vs. Timberwolves.
The Toronto Raptors, down 2-0 in their NBA first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, are back on home court at Scotiabank Arena tonight to try and spin the series around.
The Raptors are coming off a 115-105 loss on Monday.
Brandon Ingram has been in the spotlight over the first two games – not happy with his usage in Game 1 (nine shot attempts), then smothered by the Cavs, with shots not dropping, in Game 2 (seven PTS on 3-for-15 shooting).
He’s got to turn it around tonight.
But let’s focus on some positive storylines this morning that may or may not impact where you go on the betting front.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors Monday with a post-season career-high 26 points (11-19 FG, 3-4 FT) in 40 minutes, after setting his then career-high 21 points in Game 1.
The big question for the Raptors is the health of their starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley, out with a hamstring injury, and listed as questionable for Game 3 tonight. However, reporting this morning has Quickley improving, according to Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic.
Quickley is “getting better every day” Rajakovic told Sportsnet. Quickley’s an adept three-point shooter – a 41.5 per cent average over the second half of the season (16.4 PPG, 5.9 A, 4.0 R, 44.3 FG% over 70 games this season)
Ingram’s play aside, I’m also looking at the potential impact of the Raptors reserves, who outscored the Cavaliers’ bench 45-to-19 on Monday night, led by 17 points from Collin Murray-Boyles, and Sandro Mamukelashvili, with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
BEST BETS
Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors, 8 p.m. EST, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Cavaliers lead series 2-0
Raptors ATS +2.5
At Betway, the Cavaliers are betting favorites, -150, the Raptors +125 on the Moneyline. Against the spread: Cavs -2.5 (-115) and the Raptors +2.5 (-105), with the Over/Under 221.5 (O -110, U -110).
What bettors are considering – do the Raptors go down this feebly, drop tonight’s game, perhaps salvage a Game 4 on home court Sunday afternoon, then head back to Cleveland to lose Game 5, and the series there?
The Raptors out-rebounded the Cavaliers in the regular season, 172-to-136 (+36), outscored in fast break points 61-to-39 (+22) and owned a 92-to-77 (+15) advantage in assists. Toronto finished the season ranked first in fast break points (18.9) and finished third in assists (29.5)
I expect a charged-up home court crowd tonight, and I expect them to get back to that. I want a bit of cushion, though, hence the ATS pick. The four best Cavs players – Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen – all shot over 50% from the field in Game 2.
New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks, 7:00 p.m. EST, State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Series tied 1-1
Under 216.5
At Betway, the Knicks are betting favorites, -115, the Hawks -105 on the Moneyline. Against the spread: Knicks -1.5 (-105) and the Hawks +1.5 (-115), with the Over/Under 216.5 (O -105, U -115).
Both defences can really button it down, especially New York’s wings, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, on Atlanta’s forwards.
Lines are tight, and the series is super competitive – the Knicks gave away that game Monday night, scoring a season-low 15 fourth quarter points, leading the Hawks to the 107-106 win.
These teams have hit the Under seven of the past 10 times they’ve met. Jock Landale is out for the Hawks.
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. EST, Target Arena, Minneapolis, MN
Series tied 1-1
Under 233.5
At Betway, the Nuggets are betting favorites, -130, the Timberwolves +110 on the Moneyline. Against the spread: Nuggets -1.5 (-115) and the Nuggets +1.5 (-105), with the Over/Under 233.5 (O -115, U -105).
Anthony Edwards, dealing with a knee injury, is questionable for Minnesota, while Aaron Gordon is listed as probable for Denver, and Peyton Watson is out.
I would consider the Nuggets Moneyline, but I am thinking that a tough Minnesota defence will limit scoring in this one as well, with intensity ratcheted up on home court. The Wolves were one of the top teams in NBA defensive rating this past regular season, anchored by Rudy Gobert, on rim protection and rebounding, paired with Jaden McDaniels, who smothers the wings and guards, and the athleticism of Edwards, if he plays tonight.
