Thursday, December 29, 2016

US Airways Center

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Toronto Raptors travel to US Airways Center to play the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, December 29, 2016. The opening line for this matchup has Toronto as 8 point favorites and the total is set at 220. The Raptors come into this game with an overall record of 22-8. They are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of 9.0 as they are averaging 111.4 points per game while giving up 102.4 per contest. The Suns have an overall record of 9-22. They currently are 5th in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 107.3 points per game and surrendering 114.2, good for a point differential of -6.8.

Kyle Lowry comes into this contest averaging 21.9 points per game while playing 37 minutes per night so far this season for the Raptors. He pulls down 4.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is currently at 85%. DeMar DeRozan averages 27.5 points per game in 35.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.1 assists per contest and 5.3 rebounds per game for Toronto. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Eric Bledsoe averages 20.1 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per contest this year for the Suns. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 5.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 81%. Devin Booker averages 19.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.9 rebounds per contest and 3.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

Toronto averages 111.4 points per contest this season which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 9 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 3rd in the league. They average 49.9 rebounds per game and 20 assists per game which ranks them 27th and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 1st with 11.8 per game. The Raptors allow 102.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc ranking them 14th and 5th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 51.3 rebounds a game which ranks 8th and they give up 22.2 assists per contest which puts them in 17th place in the league. They force 15.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 3rd in the league.

Phoenix averages 107.3 points per game this year which ranks them 8th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -6.8 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team which has them sitting in the 21st spot in the league. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 24th in the NBA. They average 54.2 rebounds per game and 18.4 assists per contest which ranks them 7th and 30th respectively. In the turnover department the Suns rank 26th with 16.1 per game. The Suns allow 114.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 29th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 39% average from behind the arc ranking them 26th and 29th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 54.1 rebounds a game which ranks 24th and they give up 23.4 assists per contest which puts them in 22nd place in the league. The Suns force 16.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 1st in the NBA.

The Raptors have an offensive rating of 116.7 and a defensive rating of 107.3. In terms of pace they average 95.2 possessions per 48 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 53%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 58% and they shoot 3 pointers on 29% of their shots. Toronto turns the ball over an average of 10.9 times per 100 possessions and they force 14.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%.

The Suns rating on offense is 104.4 and they have a defensive rating of 111. They get 101.1 possessions per 48 minutes and they have an effective field goal percentage of 49%. As a unit they have a true shooting percentage of 53% and they attempt 3 pointers on 28% of their shot attempts. Phoenix turns the ball over on 13.8 out of every 100 possessions and their opponents average 13.9 turnovers per 100 possessions. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the year is 53%.

Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 20-9-1 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 20-10-0 against the over/under

Phoenix Suns Betting Trends

The Phoenix Suns are 14-16-1 against the spread

The Phoenix Suns are 22-9-0 against the over/under

Toronto Raptors Injuries

12/27/16 F Terrence Ross Wrist injured last game, "?" Wednesday vs. Golden State
10/22/16 PG Delon Wright Shoulder out indefinitely
10/22/16 F Jared Sullinger Foot out indefinitely

Phoenix Suns Injuries

No key injuries to report

Tony's Pick: Take Toronto -8

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