Game Time: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 9th, 2022 

Venue:  Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada

Where to Watch:  NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread: NL

BetMGM:  Spread:  NL

VegasInsider:  Spread:  NL

WynnBet: Spread: NL

Pelicans: 14-25, 13th place Western Conference

Raptors: 19-17, 7th place Eastern Conference

The New Orleans Pelicans are a total mess.  They are just now getting used to the idea that their star PF Zion Williamson may not play at all this season… and may have chronic leg, knee, foot problems for the rest of his career if he can’t get his weight under control…. The fans are burning a little over the idea that they gave away poor shooting PG Lonzo Ball in the off-season seemingly at the exact moment he became a good shooter… He is playing well for the newly fantastic Chicago Bulls.  The star of the Pelicans, by the subtraction of Zion, is SF Brandon Ingram.  Ingram is a fine player, but simply not dominant enough… or not fundamentally sound enough to be the top guy on any squad.  He is better suited as a 2nd or 3rd option on a good team.  Zion isn’t even the only dollop of "potential" missing from the Sundae in New Orleans… PG Kira Lewis Jr (the reason Lonzo was available) the #13 overall pick in the 2020 draft will also be out the entire season with a torn ACL.  The only tantalizing thing about the Pelicans is what may happen next season?  There is a scenario where Zion comes back healthy, Kira Lewis Jr comes back healthy, and another off-season lottery pick works out to the point that this floundering roster can add 3 starters to Brandon Ingram and C Jonas Valanciunas.  The Pelicans have had a good run during the holiday Covid problems that have faced the NBA for several weeks now… with other teams missing so many players, they have been knocked down to the Pelicans level.  The Pelicans managed to win 6 of their last ten games (a monster ten game stretch for such a bad team). But the effects are wearing off as other team’s keep getting their starters back from the Covid protocols with a healthy boost of immunity in their blood.  In the four most recent games the Pelicans are only 1-3… They did however get a nice emotional lift in their last game when they beat the NBA’s #2 team, the Golden State Warriors, 101-96.  A win that lifted their spirits and peripherally helped the Phoenix Suns take full control of the league’s best record.

The Raptors have been re-establishing their good name in the Eastern Conference.  Slowly moving back up the standings that they so dramatically tumbled down at the start of the season.  It makes sense that they started slow after giving away PG Kyle Lowry in the off-season.  Lowry had been the Raptors' absolute leader for a decade.  Also the losses on the roster were starting to be more than the team could sustain.  Kawhi Leonard left after the Championship 3 seasons ago, C Marc Gasol is gone, PF Serge Ibaka is gone, SG Danny Green is gone… Yet still the roster has a group of young very talented players thanks to GM Masai Ujiri.  PG Fred VanVleet is now the leader on the floor and PF Pascal Siakam is the star… but the jewel is the future of SF Scottie Barnes!  Scottie is a multi-talented two-way player who can play PG, SG, SF, PF if the team needs. He was the #4 overall pick in the 2021 draft… a draft that is turning out to have been pretty great.  The battle for ROY this year should be a real race with Cleveland’s Evan Mobley… and there is still the chance that #1 pick Detroit Piston Cade Cunningham and Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner pour on the scoring after the all star break. The Toronto Raptors are on a five-game winning streak and have won 7 of their last ten games.  In that stretch they lost a close overtime game to the Brooklyn Nets 131-129.  If you have been betting on the Raptors you would be pretty happy right now…. They are 9-1 ATS over their last ten games…. And Raptors games have shockingly hit 10 Overs in their last ten games!  

The WINNING just keeps happening and tonight I have a game that is a rock solid BEST BET in the NBA tonight and one you will not want to miss out on. Get with me on this huge payday or lock in on a long term as I stake my position up the leaderboard! Go get 'em! Get Brian Bitler’s picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

The Pelicans are 14-25 ATS, but 17-22 ATS.  They have logged 17 Overs, 21 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 6-14 in road games.

The Raptors are 19-17 on the season, but 20-16 ATS.  They have notched 23 Ovrs and 13 Unders.  They are 11-10 in home games.

The Pelicans are 25th in scoring with 105.3 points per game, 4th in rebounds with 46.7 per, 18th AST/TO with 1.7.  They are shooting 27th in FG%, 24th in 3PT%... with the only bright spot being an 8th ranking in FT% while shooting 78.9% from the free throw line.

The Raptors are 15th in points with 108.3 per game, 16th in rebounds with 44.9 per, and 14th in AST/TO with 1.8. They are shooting 24th in FG%, 18th in 3PT%, and 18th in FT%.  The Raptors have been getting wins off of their renewed focus on the defensive end… Siakam, Barnes, and Anunoby represent a lot of long, athletic arms in passing lanes and soaring for rebounds… They currently are ranked 11th in the NBA on defense while only allowing 106.8 ppg

Our prediction for Saturday, January 9th is….  Raptors 118 - Pelicans 101

This bet is Raptors and most likely the Under.  The betting lines are not out yet, but since the Raptors have hit 10 Overs in a row… the sportsbooks will most likely set the total high.  The Pelicans will not keep up their end of the scoring to hit that 11th Over.

The Raptors will roll right over the Pelicans.  One team is on the upswing while the other is in a permanent state of floundering.  The Pelicans also will reach a point this season where they will have to decide to either sit or trade away the quality players that are on the roster in order to develop the others and secure a top draft pick.

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The Pelicans are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.

The Pelicans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.

The Raptors are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games.

Raptors Games have hit the Over in the last 10 games in a row! 

Pelicans: SG Thomas Satoransky (covid) Out ** PG Didi Louzada (suspension) Out ** Pf Zion Williamson (foot) Out with no time table for a return ** PG Kira Lewis Jr (knee) Out for season. 

Raptors: SG Yuta Watanabe (covid) Out ** PG Goran Dragic (personal) Out indefinitely

Pelicans: PF Herbert Jones, SF Brandon Ingram, C Jonas Valanciunas, SG Josh Hart, PG Devonte Graham

Raptors: SF Scottie Barnes, PF Pascal Siakam, C OG Anunoby, PG Fred VanVleet, SG Gary Trent JR

Pelicans

Points: Brandon Ingram 22.6

Assists: Brandon Ingram 5.0

Rebounds: Jonas Valanciunas 11.9

Steals: Herbet Jones 1.5

Blocks: Herbert Jones 1.0

Raptors

Points: Fred VanVleet 21.7

Assists: Fred VanVleet 6.8

Rebounds: Pascal Siakam 8.3

Steals: Tremont Waters 2.0

Blocks: Scottie Barnes 0.9

New Orleans: Willie Green.  Coach Green was a fantastic NBA role player in his playing days.  He is now a rookie head coach without a whole lot of roster to work with… hopefully he gets a real chance.

Toronto:  Nick Nurse.  Coach Nurse started his NBA Head Coaching journey with a great roster, great fans, and a great front office.  He has a Championship ring to show for it.  He is in the perfect place to build a long resume of winning seasons.