Raptors vs. Wizards odds and best bets: Props and predictions for March 2

The Toronto Raptors will face off with a Washington Wizards team that sits right next to them in the standings on Thursday night.

The pregame narrative: Toronto’s offence should find success against a Washington Wizards team that’s struggled to defend recently, OG Anunoby is slumping and Delon Wright’s increased role should result in an over on his points line.

NBA odds as of 9:58 a.m. on 03/02/2023.

Raptors vs. Wizards picks

Best Bet:Raptors over 111.5 points (-118)

This over might seem daunting considering Toronto hasn’t hit this total in three games, but there are mitigating factors at play.

While the Raptors’ 95-point dud in Detriot on February 25 was troubling, their next two games came against a Cleveland Cavaliers squad that allows the fewest points in the NBA this season (106.7) and a Chicago Bulls team with the best scoring defence since February 1 (104.4 points/game).

Before those three games, the Raptors had a 21-game stretch that saw them average 117.7 points per game and hit this over 17 times.

Toronto should be able to replicate that kind of production against a Wizards team that’s struggling on defence right now. Since the beginning of February, Washington has the sixth-worst defensive rating in the NBA (118.3).

The Raptors also have a stylistic advantage as they have the third-most shot attempts off paint touches in the NBA while the Wizards rank 20th in preventing points in the paint.

Key stat: The Wizards have allowed 112 or more points in seven of their last 11 games.

Quick picks

Anunoby under 13.5 points (-108): While we expect Toronto’s offence to thrive that doesn’t mean Anunoby is in for a big day. The defensive-minded wing has struggled to score in recent weeks — both before and after his recent wrist injury.

Anunoby is averaging just 9.6 points in his last 10 games, hitting this under eight times.

It’s unclear if his injury is still affecting him or if he’s just in a garden-variety funk, but this line is just too high for a player who’s looked lost offensively since early January.

Wright over 8.5 points (-110): The former Raptor point guard is unlikely to put up a massive points total, but this modest line should be within reach for him.

With Monte Morris out with a back injury, the veteran has a chance to start, and he’s produced 23 points in two games since Morris went down. Even before Morris’ injury, Wright had been solid on this line in recent weeks.

The 30-year-old has nine or more points in six of his last seven games, averaging 10.3 during that time.

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