Toronto Favored in East Play-In Matchup
The Toronto Raptors square off against the Chicago Bulls in the first game of the NBA Play-In tournament on Wednesday.
NBA lines have the ninth-seeded Raptors at -5, so the home side is expected to handle the resurgent No. 10 seed Bulls at Scotiabank Arena.
However, online gambling markets have taken action for the visitors as they seek an upset result.
Bulls Upset-Bound?
It didn’t look like the Chicago Bulls had much chance of making the play-in tournament, but after beating the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons, here they are.
NBA odds have them as outsiders for this game, but with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine on the roster, anything is possible.
It has been a disappointing season for the Eastern Conference team, which promised so much after an improved performance last season. However, they haven’t been able to string many wins together and create a positive environment.
They are helped by having an injury-free team, unlike the Raptors, but they will need to produce a big performance to win on the road. They are 18-23 on the road and 40-39-3 against the spread.
Bettors haven’t had too much success betting on the Bulls at the sportsbook. However, they are 8-4 ATS when getting between 5-7 points, so there are some positives for bettors to take note of.
Getting +5 points is a crucial game is a solid head start, but if the Bulls show any sort of defensive lapse, the Raptors will strike.
Raptors Well-Prepared
The Toronto Raptors are one of the best-prepared teams in the NBA, and their experience in the 2019 NBA Finals holds them in good stead.
They have quality players on the floor, including Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet, so we’re not surprised NBA betting odds have them as favorites.
They’re also 27-14 at home, which is an impressive statistic. It’s one of the best home records in the East, so it’s a big task set for the Bulls to enter enemy territory and win.
They closed the regular season with a 121-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, which was clutch with their second unit on the floor.
“I love the competition, I love those big hype games,” Toronto’s Scottie Barnes said. “I feel like that’s where I excel. I feel like I’m really hyped for those.”
OG Anynoby believes former Raptor DeRozan will come out and attack.
“[He’ll] probably be more aggressive,” said Anunoby. “He’ll definitely be more aggressive on Wednesday. Just as in the game plan, [we’re] trying to limit his touches and force him out as much as possible, try to make it as difficult as possible.”
The Raptors are 42-39-1 ATS but have struggled to cover against the Bulls.
Bulls vs Raptors Game Injuries
Bulls vs Raptors Head-to-Head
The Raptors won the most recent meeting in February 104-98, and they covered the -3½ sports betting spread.
However, the Bulls have a 12-5 ATS record from the last 17 meetings in Toronto, and 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings overall.
Bulls vs Raptors Game Information
- Game: Bulls (40-42) vs Raptors (41-41)
- Day/Time: Wednesday, April 12, 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
- Bulls vs Raptors Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Bulls vs Raptors Betting Lines
Bulls vs Raptors Picks and Prediction
We expect the Raptors to come out with more energy than the Bulls, and we’re happy to take the -5 line.
The Raptors are a better team in general, and having a home-court advantage is a bonus.
Over 214½ is also worth including in NBA picks. We expect both teams to come out with an emphasis on scoring.
Toronto is listed at -210 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Raptors, there’s a chance to win $48. Chicago is +175, offering a chance to win $175 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Toronto a 67.74% chance to win, with the Bulls at 36.36%.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
Bulls vs Raptors Trends
Bulls vs Raptors Edge
Bulls vs Raptors Results
Bulls vs Raptors Game Summary
Bulls vs Raptors Picks and Previous (Feb 28, 2023)
If VanVleet is out once again, this will be a tall task for the Raptors. However, Toronto plays well at home with a 19-13 record, and Chicago is 10-20 on the road. The Raptors are on a three-game home winning streak while going 2-1 ATS, and the Bulls are 0-4 outright and ATS in their last four away games.
With the acquisition of Poeltl, the Raptors have gone from being an undersized team to featuring a lengthy starting lineup that includes 6-foot-8 forwards Siakam and Scottie Barnes. Toronto is fourth in offensive rebounding percentage compared to Chicago at 28th. The Raptors will cover by dominating the glass and paint.
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