Toronto Raptors at Houston Rockets odds, picks and prediction
The Toronto Raptors (17-25) carry a heavy eight-game losing skid into Monday's road battle at Toyota Center with a Houston Rockets (11-30) team toting a 20-game slide. Tip-off will be at 9 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Raptors-Rockets odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
The Raptors' skid was extended with a 116-105 road loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday night. It was Toronto's fourth loss by double figures during the slump.
The Rockets also played Sunday, taking a 114-112 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on home court in the afternoon. Houston's skid extends back to a 115-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies Feb. 4. Sixteen of the 20 straight losses were by 10 or more points.
Toronto's last win was a 122-111 thrashing of Houston on home court Feb. 26. The head-to-head season series ends with Monday's rematch.
Raptors at Rockets: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:56 a.m. ET.
- Money line : Raptors -375 (bet $375 to win $100) | Rockets +290 (bet $100 to win $290)
- Against the spread/ATS : Raptors -8.5 (-110) | Rockets +8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under : 223.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Raptors at Rockets: Key injuries
Raptors
- None
Rockets
- PG D.J. Augustin (illness) questionable
- SG David Nwaba (wrist) out
- SG Eric Gordon (groin) out
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Raptors at Rockets: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Raptors 112, Rockets 101
Money line (ML)
The Raptors will be the team to find the win column, but no team that has lost eight straight games is worth a -390 tag, regardless of the opponent. The money line will be a PASS in favor of better value on the spread.
Toronto lost by 11 points to a 15-26 Cleveland team Sunday and needs to travel for the second half of the back-to-back, while the Rockets remain in Houston and had a little extra rest following Sunday's matinee.
Four starters each scored at least 17 points for Toronto Sunday, led by SG Fred VanVleet's 23, but PF Pascal Siakam went just 4-for-12 from the field and the bench accounted for only 20 total points.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Houston has the home advantage and a very slight rest advantage, but Toronto is the healthier side. With Gordon already on the shelf, PG John Wall, SG Victor Oladipo and C Christian Wood are all likely to have their minutes dialed back Monday after each played at least 35 minutes in Sunday's loss.
Wood, who didn't play in the first Raptors-Rockets meeting, represents the game's biggest mismatch for Houston as he goes up against the struggling Siakam. Toronto's guards will look to turn this into a 3-point contest and has a sizable advantage. Houston is 30th in 3-point percentage while Toronto is 10th.
The Rockets haven't covered the spread in a home game since beating the Washington Wizards 107-88 as 3-point favorites Jan. 26.
Back the RAPTORS -8.5 (-110) to win by at least 9 points.
Over/Under (O/U)
Bet the UNDER 223.5 (-110), even though the season's first meeting sailed past a 219-point projection. The Raptors are 2-3 against the O/U in their last five games while the Rockets are 3-3 against the number over their last six outings.
Toronto is 4-7 against the number with a minus-9.3 scoring margin when playing on no rest. Houston is a league-worst 3-7 in that situation with a minus-5.8 differential against the line.
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Also see:
- 'We're not playing together': Rockets sad, angry after 20th straight loss (Rockets Wire)
- NBA trade deadline preview (Hoops Hype)
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