by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Mar 31, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Where to watch: TSN, BSSE-CHA
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Check back later for odds
BetMGM: Check back later for odds
Caesars: Check back later for odds
Season record
Raptors: 38-38
Hornets: 26-51
The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting.
Raptors - Hornets preview, prediction and analysis
As the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets prepare to face off on April 2, 2023, basketball fans are excited to witness an exciting Eastern Conference showdown. Both teams are fighting for playoff positions and this game could have a significant impact on the standings. With the Raptors looking to continue their recent success and the Hornets aiming to snap a losing streak, this game is shaping up to be a thrilling and intense contest.
Team Form
The Toronto Raptors have been on a hot streak lately, winning six of their last seven games. They are coming off a dominant 127-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons, in which they shot an impressive 55% from the field. The Raptors are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, just two games behind the fourth-place Miami Heat.
On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets have struggled recently, losing four of their last five games. Their most recent game was a 112-97 loss to the Washington Wizards, in which they struggled to get anything going offensively. Despite their recent struggles, the Hornets are still in the playoff hunt and currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, just one game behind the eighth-place Cleveland Cavaliers.
Key Players
The Toronto Raptors have a number of key players who will be crucial to their success in this game. Pascal Siakam has been the team's go-to scorer this season, averaging 21.8 points per game. Fred VanVleet has also been a key player for the Raptors, averaging 18.9 points and 7.6 assists per game. The Raptors will need both of these players to be at their best if they hope to continue their recent success.
For the Charlotte Hornets, their success will depend largely on the play of their big man P.J. Washington. If you're like me who has gotten a huge help with their fantasy team in the championship week, what a time to be alive. Washington is proving to be a big-time option in the paint and is a go-to-guy they can have with LaMelo Ball out for the year.
Matchup Analysis
The matchup between the Raptors and Hornets promises to be an intriguing one. Both teams have solid defenses and will be looking to limit their opponents' scoring opportunities. The Raptors have been particularly strong defensively this season, allowing just 106.6 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the league.
One area where the Hornets may be able to exploit the Raptors is on the glass. The Hornets have one of the best rebounding teams in the league, averaging 46.2 rebounds per game. The Raptors, on the other hand, have struggled on the boards this season, averaging just 41.7 rebounds per game. If the Hornets can control the glass and limit the Raptors' second-chance opportunities, they will have a good chance of coming away with the win.
The Raptors, meanwhile, will be looking to take advantage of their depth and balanced scoring attack. The Raptors have six players averaging double figures in scoring this season, and they will be looking to get contributions from everyone on their roster. If the Raptors can spread the scoring around and get everyone involved, they will be a difficult team to beat.
Conclusion
The Toronto Raptors vs Charlotte Hornets game on April 2, 2023, promises to be a highly competitive matchup between two teams fighting for playoff positions. The Raptors are coming off a hot streak and will be looking to continue their recent success, while the Hornets will be looking to snap their losing streak and get back on track. With both teams possessing talented rosters, this game is sure to be a thrilling and intense contest from start to finish. Raptors 120, Hornets 119
Team Form
The Toronto Raptors have been on a hot streak lately, winning six of their last seven games. They are coming off a dominant 127-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons, in which they shot an impressive 55% from the field. The Raptors are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, just two games behind the fourth-place Miami Heat.
On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets have struggled recently, losing four of their last five games. Their most recent game was a 112-97 loss to the Washington Wizards, in which they struggled to get anything going offensively. Despite their recent struggles, the Hornets are still in the playoff hunt and currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, just one game behind the eighth-place Cleveland Cavaliers.
Key Players
The Toronto Raptors have a number of key players who will be crucial to their success in this game. Pascal Siakam has been the team's go-to scorer this season, averaging 21.8 points per game. Fred VanVleet has also been a key player for the Raptors, averaging 18.9 points and 7.6 assists per game. The Raptors will need both of these players to be at their best if they hope to continue their recent success.
For the Charlotte Hornets, their success will depend largely on the play of their big man P.J. Washington. If you're like me who has gotten a huge help with their fantasy team in the championship week, what a time to be alive. Washington is proving to be a big-time option in the paint and is a go-to-guy they can have with LaMelo Ball out for the year.
Matchup Analysis
The matchup between the Raptors and Hornets promises to be an intriguing one. Both teams have solid defenses and will be looking to limit their opponents' scoring opportunities. The Raptors have been particularly strong defensively this season, allowing just 106.6 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the league.
One area where the Hornets may be able to exploit the Raptors is on the glass. The Hornets have one of the best rebounding teams in the league, averaging 46.2 rebounds per game. The Raptors, on the other hand, have struggled on the boards this season, averaging just 41.7 rebounds per game. If the Hornets can control the glass and limit the Raptors' second-chance opportunities, they will have a good chance of coming away with the win.
The Raptors, meanwhile, will be looking to take advantage of their depth and balanced scoring attack. The Raptors have six players averaging double figures in scoring this season, and they will be looking to get contributions from everyone on their roster. If the Raptors can spread the scoring around and get everyone involved, they will be a difficult team to beat.
Conclusion
The Toronto Raptors vs Charlotte Hornets game on April 2, 2023, promises to be a highly competitive matchup between two teams fighting for playoff positions. The Raptors are coming off a hot streak and will be looking to continue their recent success, while the Hornets will be looking to snap their losing streak and get back on track. With both teams possessing talented rosters, this game is sure to be a thrilling and intense contest from start to finish. Raptors 120, Hornets 119
Projected starting lineup
Raptors:
PG: Fred VanVleet
SG: O.G. Anunoby
SF: Scottie Barnes
PF: Pascal Siakam
C: Jakob Poeltl
Hornets:
PG: Dennis Smith Jr.
SG: Kelly Oubre Jr.
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: P.J. Washington
C: Mark Williams
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this preview, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
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.
