by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Dec 07, 2022
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Where to watch: TSN, SPECSN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Raptors -7.5; Raptors -330, Lakers +275; O/U 225.5
FanDuel: Raptors -8; Raptors -340, Lakers +275; O/U 224.5
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Raptors -7.5; Raptors -340, Lakers +270; O/U 225.5
Season record
Lakers: 10-13
Raptors: 12-12
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Lakers - Raptors preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Lakers: lost 116-102 at Cavaliers on Tuesday
Raptors: lost 116-110 vs. Celtics on Monday
Lakers analysis
The Los Angeles Lakers were just getting things together with Anthony Davis asserting himself into the MVP conversation, only for the big man to leave Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with an illness. With Davis out, LeBron James was left to fend for himself in the Lakers’ 116-102 loss in Cleveland, something that LeBron doesn’t have happen often. The Lakers will have to play the second night of a back-to-back in Toronto possibly without Davis. LeBron finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds, while Thomas Bryant was next in line with 19 points and nine rebounds in place of Davis. Meanwhile, the Lakers watched on to see Donovan Mitchell put up 43. All eyes, however, are on Davis who didn’t attempt a single shot and played just eight minutes before leaving the game.
“It got progressively worse as the day went on,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. "His temperature was 101 and some change. A-D wanted to try to play, but he felt too weak. He’s drained and dehydrated.
“That’s a huge loss, obviously, with the way he’s been playing lately.”
Davis came into this game having posted a 44-point game against Milwaukee and a 55-point dominant effort in Washington the next game. He’s playing at an MVP-type level and LeBron needs that to take the enormous pressure off him to perform in Year 20. Which he can do, but he doesn’t want to be the focal point anymore, and no one can blame him. This suddenly turns into an uphill climb.
Raptors analysis
The Toronto Raptors have been able to skirt by through a 12-12 start mainly without Pascal Siakam in the lineup. Now that he’s back, it’s time for the Raptors to get going. There’s just one problem: They’ve lost three of four, including losses to conference foes Brooklyn and Boston. The latest was a 6-point loss to the Celtics on Monday despite a 29-point effort from Siakam. He also chipped in with seven assists, while Scottie Barnes had 21 points and seven rebounds. Where did things go wrong, you might ask yourself? Fred VanVleet shot 3 of 14 and went just 1 of 6 from 3-point range. Coach Nick Nurse tried shortening the bench with 8 rotation players, but that didn’t seem to work because not enough was available to stop Jayson Tatum’s game-high 31 points.
“We need to make a few more open shots when they’re generated,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.
Prediction
Considering I'm not really sure if the Lakers are going to be at full strength for this one, I do think we need to be serious in thinking that the Raptors will win this game. There's just too much of a talent discrepancy with Davis out, and on top of the fact that they have to go to Toronto on the second night of a back-to-back, and I think Toronto just gets the job done. Raptors by 10
Betting trends
Lakers are 21-31 ATS as a road underdog the last 3 seasons.
Lakers are 29-35 ATS in non-conference games the last 3 seasons.
Raptors are 44-46 ATS at home in the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Lakers:
PG: Dennis Schroder
SG: Patrick Beverley
SF: Lonnie Walker IV
PF: LeBron James
C: Thomas Bryant
Raptors:
PG: Fred VanVleet
SG: O.G. Anunoby
SF: Scottie Barnes
PF: Pascal Siakam
C: Christian Koloko
Injury report
Lakers: Anthony Davis (illness, out)
Raptors: Otto Porter (toe, out), Juancho Hernangomez (ankle, out), Precious Achiuwa (ankle, out)
Statistical leaders
Lakers:
Points: Anthony Davis – 28.6
Rebounds: Anthony Davis – 12.8
Assists: Russell Westbrook – 7.7
Raptors:
Points: Pascal Siakam – 24.5
Rebounds: Pascal Siakam – 8.9
Assists: Pascal Siakam – 7.1
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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.
