Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets - 1/4/20 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets

Date: Saturday, January 4, 2020

Location: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY

TV: YES

Odds/Point Spread: Brooklyn -1

Total/Over-Under: 218

Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors (23-12, 2nd in the Atlantic Division) go to Barclays Center on Saturday where they'll meet the Brooklyn Nets (16-17, 4th in the Atlantic Division). Toronto opens this matchup as 1 point underdogs. The over/under is set at 218.

The Raptors are covering the spread 57.1% of the time, having gone 20-15-0 ATS. Brooklyn is covering 48.5% of the time, going 16-17-0 against the spread.

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

12/19/19 C Marc Gasol Hamstring is out indefinitely
12/19/19 SF Norman Powell Shoulder is out indefinitely
12/19/19 PF Pascal Siakam Groin is out indefinitely
01/02/20 SG Matt Thomas Finger is out indefinitely

Key Brooklyn Nets Injuries

12/19/19 SG David Nwaba Achilles is out for season
11/21/19 PG Kyrie Irving Shoulder is out indefinitely
10/19/19 SF Kevin Durant Achilles is out indefinitely
01/03/20 SG Caris LeVert Thumb is upgraded to probable Saturday vs Toronto
01/02/20 SG Garrett Temple Knee is questionable Saturday vs Toronto

Player Spotlight

Fred VanVleet comes into this game averaging 17.6 points per contest while playing 36.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is 87%. OG Anunoby averages 11.1 points per contest in 29.8 minutes per game. He averages 1.7 assists per game and 5.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 63%.

Player Spotlight

Taurean Waller-Prince scores 12.2 points per contest while playing 30.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 6.7 rebounds per contest and has 2.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 37% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Spencer Dinwiddie averages 22.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 30.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.0 rebounds per game and has 6.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto averages 110.5 points per contest, which is 16th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 5.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 20th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 7th in the NBA. They average 46.2 boards per contest and 24.9 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 10th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 15th with 15.1 per game. The Raptors allow 105.3 points per contest, which is 4th in the NBA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 3rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 47.4 rebounds a game which ranks 28th, and they allow 25.0 assists per game which puts them in 22nd place in the league. They force 16.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 29th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Brooklyn is 15th in the NBA with 110.6 points per contest this season. They are 24th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -1.12. They shoot 33% from beyond the arc, which is good for 28th in the league. They are 2nd in the NBA in rebounding with 48.8 boards per contest and 16th in assists per game with 23.8. The Nets are 8th in turnovers per contest with 15.7. The Nets give up 111.7 points per game, which ranks them 19th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 3rd and 15th in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 21.3 dimes allowed per game and 26th with 47.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Nets are 6th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Raptors are 17th in the league in defensive rating with 104.1, and their offensive rating of 109.2 is ranked 2nd. They are 14th in the NBA in pace with 100.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 18th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 7th in the NBA. Toronto is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 29th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Brooklyn is 11th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league. The Nets are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.7, and their defensive rating of 107.8 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 10th in the league with 102.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 22nd. As a team they are 22nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Brooklyn -1

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