by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Jan 25, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Where to watch: SN, BSSE-CHA
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Raptors -3
BetMGM: Raptors -3.5
Caesars: NL
Season record
Hornets: 26-21 (7th, Eastern Conference)
Raptors: 22-22 (9th, Eastern Conference)
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Hornets - Raptors preview, analysis and prediction
Well, we weren’t exactly correct with what transpired the other day between the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors, both losing games they should’ve won on Sunday.
Now you’ll get a look at two mad teams when they face each other on Tuesday in Toronto.
This author is a huge fan of both the Hornets and Raptors, particularly what they can be on defense and how their athleticism can change the complexion of the game. Seeing these two go at it in what should be a game to behold.
But both squads are coming off a loss over the weekend and particularly have to be mad at how things transpired. The Hornets are coming off a 113-91 loss at home to the Atlanta Hawks, who shot below 40 percent from the floor and shot only 4 of 36 from 3-point range.
On a good day during P.E. class, that is what I would pull off during recess.
"We couldn't make shots," Hornets coach James Borrego. "We move on, but we need to make shots."
Miles Bridges was the only one to show up for the Charlotte offense, going 8 of 13 for 19 points and six rebounds. You can throw out the three turnovers; it’s not like those impacted a game in which Charlotte shot poorly and turned it over 16 times.
LaMelo Ball shot 6 of 17, while Terry Rozier was held to just 2 of 14 from the floor. In a word, it was all bad in a setting where Hornets fans don’t want to relieve something like that ever again for as long as they live. Okay, maybe not that bad, but you get the idea.
But at least the Raptors didn’t have that bad of a loss on Sunday in terms of margin, but the opponent did not help matters. Toronto lost 114-105 to a shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers team at home that had three players score 19 points each.
Pascal Siakam led the way with 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but he got no help from anyone else; OG Anunoby went 4 of 15, Scottie Barnes was 3 of 15, and Gary Trent Jr. was 4 of 15 and all of his makes were from 3-point range.
"Usually we'll try everybody and anybody, keep moving guys around and try to find a unit that works," Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. "We couldn't really get that done either."
The Raptors are back to playing games in front of no fans, which ultimately had to be a factor in that loss to Portland. Toronto has covered its last six games after a loss against the spread, while the under is also 7-1 in the last eight.
The Hornets, meanwhile, are 7-1 following a division game and 21-13 as an underdog ATS this season. With no fans, this is about as close to a neutral site game as one could have. Give me the Hornets in a bounce-back effort. Hornets by 6
Betting trends
The under is 7-1 in the Raptors' last eight.
The Raptors have covered their last four Tuesday games.
The Hornets are 5-0 ATS after allowing 100 points or more the previous game.
The over is 11-1 in the Hornets' last 12 following a double-digit loss.
Projected starting lineup
Hornets:
PG: LaMelo Ball
SG: Terry Rozier
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Mason Plumlee
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Miles Bridges
C: Mason Plumlee
Raptors:
PG: Fred VanVleet
SG: Gary Trent Jr.
SF: OG Anunoby
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Pascal Siakam
SF: OG Anunoby
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Pascal Siakam
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
