Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors NBA Picks & Predictions 10/19/2017

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Air Canada Centre

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Chicago Bulls travel to Air Canada Centre to play the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Toronto as 11 point favorites.

The Bulls head into this matchup after finishing last year with a mark of 41-41. They were 4th in the Central Division. They had a point differential of 0.5 as they averaged 102.9 points per contest while giving up 102.4 per game. The Raptors had an overall record of 51-31 last season. They were 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They averaged 106.9 points per game and surrendered 102.6, good for a point differential of 4.3.

Valuable Chicago Bulls Betting Trends

The Chicago Bulls were 42-40-0 against the spread last season

The Chicago Bulls were 32-50-0 against the over/under last year

Important Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors were 44-36-2 against the spread last season

The Toronto Raptors were 44-38-0 against the over/under last year

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

10/17/17 F Bobby Portis Possible Suspension is "?" Thursday vs. Toronto
10/17/17 F Nikola Mirotic Facial out indefinitely
10/17/17 F Paul Zipser Back is "?" Thursday vs. Toronto
10/16/17 PG Cameron Payne Foot out indefinitely
10/12/17 PG Zach LaVine Knee out indefinitely
10/06/17 PG Kris Dunn Finger out indefinitely

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Robin Lopez comes into this contest after averaging 10.4 points per game while playing 28 minutes per night last season. He pulled down 6.4 rebounds per game and dished out 1.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage was 49% while his free throw percentage finished at 72%. Justin Holiday averaged 7.7 points per game in 20 minutes per contest last season. He averaged 1.2 assists per contest and 2.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was 43% for the year while his free throw percentage was 83%.

Player Spotlight

DeMar DeRozan averaged 27.3 points per game while playing 35.4 minutes per contest last year. He grabbed 5.2 rebounds per game and had 3.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage was 47% and his free throw percentage was at 84%. Kyle Lowry averaged 22.4 points per game last season and he saw the court an average of 37.4 minutes per contest. He also averaged 4.8 rebounds per contest and 7 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 46% and his free throw percentage was 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

Chicago averaged 102.9 points per contest last season, which ranked them 23rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin was 0.43 and their shooting percentage was 44% as a team, which had them ranked 25th. Behind the arc they shot 34% which was good for 24th in the league. They averaged 46.3 rebounds per game and 22.6 assists per game, which ranked them 3rd and 14th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they ranked 18th with 13.6 per game. The Bulls allowed 102.4 points per game to their opponents which ranked them 6th in the league. They also allowed a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 6th in those defensive categories. Opponents averaged 43.2 rebounds a game which ranked 13th and they gave up 23.6 assists per contest, which put them in 22nd place in the league. They forced 13.4 turnovers per game which ranked them 11th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto was 10th in the league with 106.9 points per game last year. They were 11th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin was 4.21. They shot 36% from 3-point range, which was good for 13th in the NBA. They were 18th in the league in rebounding with 43.3 boards per game, and 30th in assists per contest with 18.5. The Raptors were 27th in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Raptors surrendered 102.6 points per contest, which ranked them 8th in the NBA. Their defense allowed a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 6th and 12th in those defensive statistics. They ranked 9th with 21.8 assists allowed per contest and 7th with 42.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Raptors were 21st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game last season.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls were 20th in the league in defensive rating with 107, and their offensive rating of 107.4 was ranked 25th. They were 20th in the NBA in pace with 95.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% was 30th. As a unit they were 28th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 28th in the NBA. Chicago was 21st in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 51%, which was 22nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Toronto was 26th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 51%, which was 23rd in the league. The Raptors were 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.3, and their defensive rating of 107.8 was ranked 20th. In terms of pace they were 24th in the league with 94.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% was 12th. As a team they were 11th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league.

Who will win tonight's Bulls/Raptors NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Toronto -11

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