Raptors vs. Trail Blazers same-game parlay predictions Mar. 9: Fade Toronto, Olynyk on the road
Two of the NBA's bottom-feeders collide when the Toronto Raptors visit the Portland Trail Blazers.
The pregame narrative: Toronto is in no position to be a road favourite, making Portland a quality option to tease up. Neither offence is elite by any stretch, putting the under in play. Thirdly, I'm fading an inconsistent Kelly Olynyk.
NBA oddsas of 1:52 p.m. on 03/09/2024.
Raptors vs. Trail Blazers same-game parlay
Parlay: Trail Blazers +7.5 + Under 232.5 points + Olynyk under 12.5 points (+280)
Trail Blazers +7.5 (-195): Portland is playing its second game in as many nights, but that's nothing to be overly concerned about.
The Trail Blazers are a serviceable 6-6 against the spread when playing with a rest disadvantage this season.
Toronto, meanwhile, is a brutal 6-10-1 against the spread when holding a rest advantage in 2023-24.
What's also uninspiring is the Raptors' 10-12 record as a favourite and 2-3 mark as a road favourite.
Winning by eight or more points seems like a tall task for Toronto with Scottie Barnes out. The Raps have failed to cover this spread in each of their last five games and 14 of their last 16 overall.
Other parlay picks
Under 232.5 points (-195): Barnes' absence has negatively impacted the offence.
Toronto is averaging 107.3 points per game since Barnes' hand injury. That's sizeably below the team's season-long average of 114.1 points.
Small forward Bruce Brown has also missed the Raptors' last three games which is a sizeable blow as he was seeing some impactful minutes since joining the team in January.
Portland's offence is full of key absences, too, as Scoot Henderson, Deandre Ayton and Malcolm Brogdon are all out.
Portland and Toronto are 29th and 20th, respectively, in offensive efficiency this season.
Olynyk under 12.5 points (-107): This is a mark Olynyk comfortably falls short of more often than not.
The Canadian centre is averaging just 8.4 points per game this season. That number is only up slightly (9.9) since joining Toronto on Feb. 10.
Olynyk has missed this mark in seven of 11 games with the Raptors.
