The Toronto Raptors (14-5) hit the road to visit the Charlotte Hornets (5-14) Saturday. Tip-off from Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, is set for 6 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Raptors vs. Hornets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Toronto leads 1-0
Toronto narrowly escaped with a 97-95 win over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday thanks to a Brandon Ingram game-winning mid-range. The Raptors failed to cover as 10.5-point home favorites in the win, while the Under (234) cashed. F Ja’Kobe Walter was the only Raptor to hit multiple threes as Toronto was held to an abysmal 5-for-26 (19.2%) from deep by Indiana.
Charlotte upset the Chicago Bulls 123-116 Friday while covering as a 3-point home dog as the Under (249.5) hit. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 27 points, and Miles Bridges and Collin Sexton added 22 and 21 points, respectively. The win broke a 7-game skid for the Hornets.
The Raptors escaped with a 110-108 win over Charlotte in this season’s first matchup. Ingram scored 27 to lead Toronto, while 5 other players finished in double figures. The Hornets were held to 10-for-40 (25%) shooting from three-point range in the loss.
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Raptors at Hornets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Raptors -375 (bet $375 to win $100) | Hornets +300 (bet $100 to win $300)
- Against the spread (ATS): Raptors -9.5 (-102) | Hornets +9.5 (-118)
- Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Raptors at Hornets key injuries
Raptors
Hornets
(Not yet submitted — below was for Friday’s game)
- F Pat Connaughton (calf) out
- F Josh Green (shoulder) out
- F Grant Williams (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Raptors at Hornets picks and predictions
Prediction
Raptors 122, Hornets 102
PASS.
The Raptors will win to cover here as -375 favorites, but no team favored so heavily is ever worth the risk of betting on. Pass and bet on the safer spread and/or Over/Under bets instead.
BET RAPTORS -9.5 (-102).
Toronto has a top-10 offense and a top-5 defense, largely thanks to how dominant the Raptors are in transition, leading the NBA with over 20 fastbreak points per game. This Charlotte team, which is top-10 in turnovers per game, will give up too many easy points to keep this game close.
Toronto is in the bottom 5 in the NBA in three-point attempts per game, but the team shoots a very respectable 37% from deep. However, look for the Raptors to hit even more of their deep balls against this Charlotte defense that gives up an NBA-worst 41.6% opponent three-point percentage.
LEAN UNDER 227.5 (-115).
The Under has hit in Charlotte’s last 3 games and is 5-1 in Toronto’s last 6 overall. The Under is also 2-1 in the last 3 matchups between these squads.
The Raptors give up just 112.5 points per game and have a 110.8 defensive rating, showing that their defense is so good that the Under against a young and sloppy team is always safer.
Charlotte’s defense is terrible, making this play slightly risky, but the Over is high enough at 227.5 to feel comfortable backing the Under here.
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