Toronto Raptors at Portland Blazers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/14/2018

Friday, December 14, 2018

Moda Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Toronto Raptors travel to Moda Center to play the Portland Blazers on Friday, December 14, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Toronto as 3 point favorites.

The Raptors have a record of 23-7. They are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They have a point differential of 8.5 as they average 115.6 points per game while giving up 107.0 per contest. The Blazers have an overall mark of 15-13. They currently are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They total 111.0 points per contest and give up 109.8, which is a point differential of 1.2.

Valuable Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 15-15-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 17-13-0 against the over/under

Important Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 13-15-0 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 14-14-0 against the over/under

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

12/12/18 C Jonas Valanciunas Thumb left last game, is questionable Friday vs Portland
12/12/18 SF Kawhi Leonard Hip is questionable Friday vs Portland
11/06/18 SF Norman Powell Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Kyle Lowry comes into this contest averaging 14.2 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 10.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 83%. Kawhi Leonard averages 26.1 points per game in 34.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.0 assists per contest and 8.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard averages 27.0 points per game while playing 35.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 6.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 89%. CJ McCollum averages 22.0 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.9 rebounds per contest and 2.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto averages 115.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.5 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 21st in the league. They average 45.8 rebounds per game and 25.5 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 8th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 21st with 13.7 per game. The Raptors allow 107.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 7th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 6th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.4 rebounds a game which ranks 14th and they give up 24.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 19th place in the league. They force 15.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 13th in the league with 111.0 points per game this year. They are 18th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 1.2. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They are 2nd in the league in rebounding with 49.1 boards per game, and 28th in assists per contest with 20.7. The Blazers are 14th in turnovers per game with 14.6. The Blazers surrender 109.8 points per contest, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 14th with 23.7 assists allowed per contest and 13th with 44.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blazers are 1st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 11.8 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Raptors are 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 106.3, and their offensive rating of 114.7 is ranked 7th. They are 14th in the NBA in pace with 99.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 3rd. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 9th in the NBA. Toronto is 17th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 28th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 12th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 18th in the league. The Blazers are 11th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.3, and their defensive rating of 110.1 is ranked 16th. In terms of pace they are 19th in the league with 99.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 18th. As a team they are 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Toronto -3

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald