Larry Ness - Dallas Mavericks vs Toronto Raptors

Larry's NBA Las Vegas Insider: won Fri / 2-0?

Handicapper
Larry Ness
League
NBA
Competition
Dallas Mavericks vs Toronto Raptors
Time
10/23/2021 07:40 PM
Bet Type
Point Spread
Pick
Toronto Raptors +4 (-110) (Caesars)
Outcome
Loss
Analysis
My 9* Las Vegas Insider is on the Tor Raptors at 7:35 ET. The Toronto Raptors flopped in their season-opening game Wednesday, falling 98-83 at home to the Wizards. However, Toronto rebounded last night with an impressive 115-83 upset victory at Boston. The Raptors travel tonight to Dallas to play the Mavericks, who got served in their season-opener 113-87 in Atlanta. Normally I avoid "playing on" teams in the second game of a back-to-back, but this is different. It's the start of the season, so fatigue simply is not an issue at this point of the campaign. Plus, this is a difficult travel spot for the Mavericks, as they make a rare trip "North of the Border." Let's take a closer look. Lowry's gone for Toronto and it's playing without All Star Pascal Siakam (21.4 & 7.2 LY), who is recovering from Shoulder surgery. However, Toronto received an impressive performance Friday from rookie Scottie Barnes (fourth overall pick in the recent draft!), who scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 35 minutes. The cupboard is hardly bare, with PG VanVleet (19.6-4.2-6.3 LY), SF Anunoby (15.9-5.5 LY) and PF Boucher (13.6 & 6.7 LY) all returning. Trent was a late season pick-up from Portland last season and has averaged 13.0 PPG in two games plus PF Achiuwa came from Miami (as did veteran PG Dragic) and has averaged 10.5 & 11.0 in his two games. Gary Trent Jr. replaced Goran Dragic in the starting lineup against Boston, adding 20 points and four steals for the Raptors last night, while Precious Achiuwa had 15 points and 15 rebounds. Luka Doncic has established himself as an elite player is just three short years but new head coach Jason Kidd would like to reduce Doncic's workload this season as the primary ball-handler to keep defenses off balance and to keep him fresher for late in games. Doncic was involved in 27.6 percent of the Mavericks' plays when on the court Thursday, which was lower than all but four of his 73 games last season, when he ranked second in the NBA at 35 percent. However, Doncic shot poorly (6-17) and his 18 points were a team-high (not a good stat!). Dallas big man Kristaps Porzingis had just 11 points and shot worse than Doncic, making only 4 of 13 shots. Overall, Dallas shot 33.3% as a team, including an 'ugly' 13 of 43 on threes. Jason Kidd will now seek his first win with his new team, laying points in Toronto, a team that is coming off an impressive win in Boston. What's more, Toronto's loss to Washington was the franchise's first game in front of its home crowd, after playing all of last year's 'home' game in Tampa (due to COVID travel restrictions). A now-confident Raptors team gets a second chance to play in front of a packed house and in my opinion, Toronto is being underestimated by the bookmakers. Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is a better game coach on his WORST day, than Kidd is on his BEST. Take the home dog! Good luck...Larry

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