Raptors vs. Lakers NBA expert prediction and odds for Tuesday, Jan. 9 (Ride with streaking Raps)
The Toronto Raptors may have moved long-time forward OG Anunoby, but it's quickly seeing the benefits of landing former No. 2 overall pick RJ Barrett and emerging guard Immanuel Quickley.
Toronto has won three of four since making the trade with the New York Knicks and is fresh off of a blowout win at the Golden State Warriors. The Raptors enter Tuesday's tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers as underdogs, but can the team continue to smash expectations?
Here's my full betting preview for this one below!
New Caesars Sportsbook users! Sign up with the link below to get a no-sweat first bet up to $1,000! All you have to do is opt in below!
Raptors
Lakers
Raptors
RJ Barrett: Barrett has shown flashes of promise during his time with the Knicks, but is flourishing in a new role with the Raptors, fresh off a 37-point outing against the Warriors on Sunday. It's only four games, but Barrett is shooting 53% from the field and 52% from beyond the arc to go with six rebounds and three assists while averaging 21 points per game.
Lakers
Anthony Davis: Davis has been a monster this season, enjoying good health and an immense defensive impact. The big man is leading the league in steals and blocks combined ("stocks") and is shooting 55% from the field while enjoying above-average shooting from the perimeter at 32% relative to his career mark of 30%.
Like the Knicks, who have been on fire since the Anunoby trade, the Raptors are quickly reaping the benefits of the move. Toronto has improved its net rating from -1.0 (22nd in the NBA) to +4.7 (10th) in an admittedly small sample size of four games. Toronto is 3-1 in those games.
RJ Barrett poured in 37 points on Sunday against the Warriors and Immanuel Quickley is posting 17.3/4.8/6.5 since joining the Raptors, I believe the team's offensive explosion is going to keep this one close in Los Angeles.
While the Lakers have high-end talent in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team is short on the requisite depth to handle a team like Toronto. Look under the hood and you'll see this is a pedestrian Lakers team, just 20th in net rating on the year, worse than the Raptors over the balance of the season.
LA is 5-9 against the spread since the In-Season Tournament Championship win, I'll keep fading them.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
