Pacers vs. Raptors picks and odds: Back Toronto to cover the spread
The Toronto Raptors can make it four wins in their last five games when they take on the Indiana Pacers tonight.
The pregame narrative: Each team will likely be without one of their stars as Scottie Barnes and Tyrese Haliburton are listed as questionable tonight. Still, we’re looking to back the Raptors against the spread at home and are also taking the over in this contest.
NBA odds as of 9:18 a.m. on 03/22/2023.
Pacers vs. Raptors picks
Best Bet: Raptors -8.5 (-110)
Toronto covered a hefty spread at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday and we expect a similar performance at Scotiabank Arena tonight.
The Raps have been immaculate in their own building lately, winning each of their past seven games while covering the spread in six straight. They’ve won by an average of nearly 10 points (9.85) in this span, too.
No Barnes would be a detriment but we’d argue the absence of Haliburton is a far bigger loss.
The Pacers’ all-star point guard leads the team in points (20.8), assists (10.4) and minutes (33.7) per game and is their main driver of offence.
Indiana is 4-14 when he’s not in the lineup. Even if Haliburton does play, we’re still fading the Pacers on the road.
Rick Carlisle’s squad is 13-23 away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season with an equally unimpressive 17-19 ATS record.
Key stat: The Pacers own the sixth-worst net rating on the road (-5.5).
Quick picks
Raptors over 121.5 points (-117): This line might seem high based on the Raptors’ season-long performance, but it’s right around where they’ve performed lately.
Toronto has cleared this line in three straight home games, averaging 125.0 PPG over that stretch.
The Raptors also will be going up against a Pacers defence that is near the bottom of the league. Indiana gives up the fourth-most points per game (118.3) and owns the sixth-worst defensive rating in the NBA (116.2).
Pacers opponents have gone over this number in each of the team’s last four road games.
Over 234 points (-110): Indiana has been playing in shootouts lately, clearing this total in six of its past eight games with an average of 252.6 points being scored in those contests.
The Raptors haven’t put up numbers quite that high but they’ve still gone over the total in four of their past five.
The over is also 6-2 in Toronto’s last eight home games.
