The Portland Trail Blazers (8-12) and Toronto Raptors (14-7) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The game will broadcast live on KUNP.
The Raptors are 5-point favorites over the Blazers on the spread (Raptors -5), with the over/under set at 231.5 total points. The Raptors are -220 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while the Blazers are +180 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Trail Blazers vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, December 2.
My Trail Blazers vs Raptors Prediction
- Trail Blazers vs Raptors pick: Jakob Poeltl Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115)
My Trail Blazers vs Raptors best bet is on Jakob Poeltl Over 21.5 Points, Rebounds, and Assists, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Trail Blazers vs Raptors Odds
| Trail Blazers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -105 | 231.5 -110o / -110u | +180 |
| Raptors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -115 | 231.5 -110o / -110u | -220 |
Trail Blazers vs Raptors NBA Preview
The Raptors have missed the playoffs in each of the last three years. However, this year's group may just be the one to break that playoff drought.
The Raptors got off to a 14-5 start, punctuated by a nine-game winning streak.
That streak ended on Saturday night as they let a fourth-quarter lead slip away against the Hornets before being blown out by the Knicks on Sunday. They return home tonight, where they are 7-2 at Scotiabank Arena.
A key piece to the Raptors' start this season has been RJ Barrett. The Toronto native is averaging 19 points, nearly five rebounds and nearly four assists per game while shooting 50% from the field.
However, he will miss his fifth consecutive game with a right knee sprain, last playing against Brooklyn.
Brandon Ingram scored just 14 points against the Nets but followed that up with 37 against the Cavaliers — in part because he felt he didn't do anything the night before and partly because he knew Barrett would be out.
Ingram has now scored at least 20 in six of his last eight games. He is averaging 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists this season.
Though Toronto will be missing Barrett tonight, between Ingram and Scottie Barnes taking on Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant and Toumani Camara, tonight's game will feature an interesting battle of wings.
Avdija is coming off one of the best games of his career on Sunday with 31 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists against the Thunder.
It was his second triple-double in his past six games, and he narrowly missed two others in November, when he averaged 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists.
Avdija has taken on more of a playmaker role while Portland is shorthanded in the backcourt. Jrue Holiday remains out with a right calf strain, while Scoot Henderson has yet to make his season debut.
That has also led to increased minutes for Caleb Love, which has been a mixed bag. The undrafted rookie is averaging 8.3 points and scored 26 against the Warriors; however, he is shooting just 32% from the field, and his shot selection has never been a strength.
Holiday has missed the last two weeks, which nearly matches the team's skid, as Portland has lost seven of its last 10 games. It did get Shaedon Sharpe back against San Antonio, but he has been limited to 22 minutes in his last two games.
Trail Blazers vs Raptors Prediction, Betting Analysis
Jakob Poeltl did not play in Sunday's game on the second night of the back-to-back.
However, he nearly posted a triple-double on Saturday with eight points, 11 rebounds and nine assists against the Hornets.
Tonight, he gets a Trail Blazers team that is 22nd in PRA allowed, giving up 23.7 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Poeltl has played just one game against the Trail Blazers over the last couple of seasons, but in that matchup he had 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists last March.
While his assists on Saturday were likely an outlier, he has recorded at least eight rebounds in nine of his last 10 games.
He will be needed on the glass if Donovan Clingan returns tonight.
Poeltl has recorded 23 PRA in seven of his last 10 games and has a strong matchup to continue that trend tonight.
A few more players in good spots tonight are Avdija and Immanuel Quickley.
The Raptors are allowing the third-most rebounds to small forwards, and Avdija has collected 10 or more in three of his last four games against them.
Given how he has filled up the stat sheet of late, he likely records 35+ PRA if he posts another double-double. He has at least 35 PRA in seven of his last 10 games and 40+ in three of his last four against Toronto.
Portland is allowing the most points per game to point guards, and Quickley had 29 points and seven assists in his last matchup with the Blazers. He also enters this game with 20+ PA in five of his last seven games.
I will cap this parlay with Ingram for 20 points. He has taken on the leading scorer role with Barrett sidelined and has scored 20 in three of his last four matchups against Portland while with New Orleans.
Pick: Jakob Poeltl Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115)
Trail Blazers vs Raptors Parlay Picks
- Deni Avdija 35+ Points, Rebounds, and Assists
- Brandon Ingram 20+ Points
- Jakob Poeltl Over 21.5 Points, Rebounds, and Assists
- Immanuel Quickley 20+ Points and Assists
Parlay Odds: +310 via DraftKings
Spread
I'm not betting either side of the spread in this game.
Moneyline
No moneyline play.
Over/Under
My Raptors vs Blazers betting prediction is on Jakob Poeltl Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists.
Raptors vs Trail Blazers Betting Trends
