Toronto Raptors at Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Picks & Predictions 12/27/2017

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Toronto Raptors travel to Chesapeake Energy Arena to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, December 27, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 4 point favorites.

The Raptors come into this game with an overall record of 23-8. They are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.9 as they are averaging 111.3 points per game while giving up 102.4 per contest. The Thunder have an overall record of 19-15. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.6 points per game and surrendering 99.8, good for a point differential of 2.8.

Valuable Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 19-13-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 15-17-0 against the over/under

Important Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 12-21-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 13-21-0 against the over/under

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

DeMar DeRozan averages 24.9 points per game in 34.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.9 assists per contest and 4.4 rebounds per game for Toronto. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%. Kyle Lowry comes into this contest averaging 15.9 points per game while playing 32.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Raptors. He pulls down 6.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is currently at 89%.

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook averages 23.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.5 rebounds per contest and 9.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 71%. Paul George averages 19.9 points per game while playing 37.1 minutes per contest this year for the Thunder. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per game and has 3.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage currently is at 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

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 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 6th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 40.9 rebounds a game which ranks 4th, and they give up 21.9 assists per contest which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 16.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 28th in the league. Toronto averages 111.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.9 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 6th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 22nd in the league. They average 42.1 rebounds per game and 23 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 10th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 22nd with 14.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder surrender 99.8 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 7th with 21.4 assists allowed per contest, and 7th with 41.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Thunder are 30th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 17.6 per game this season. Oklahoma City is 22nd in the league with 102.6 points per game this year. They are 27th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 2.88. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 21st in the NBA. They are 14th in the league in rebounding with 43.9 boards per game and 25th in assists per contest with 20.8. The Thunder are 12th in turnovers per game with 14.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Raptors are 4th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.4, and their defensive rating of 104.3 is ranked 25th. In terms of pace they are 10th in the league with 98.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 5th. As a team they are 5th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league. Toronto is 23rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 26th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 18th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 18th in the NBA. The Thunder are 17th in the league in defensive rating with 103.7, and their offensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 28th. They are 25th in the NBA in pace with 95 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 24th. As a unit they are 28th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Oklahoma City -4

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