10:10 pm
May 2

Raptors @ Lakers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Raptors (26-38)

@ Los Angeles Lakers (36-27)

 

Current odds:

Toronto Raptors: (+295)

Los Angeles Lakers: (-355)

 

• The spread for the game is Los Angeles by 8 points.

• The Lakers are struggling. Los Angeles has dropped five of its past six, including a 110-106 loss to the visiting Sacramento Kings on Friday in James’ return. He missed 20 games due to a high-ankle sprain he suffered on March 20. With the loss, the Lakers (36-27) dropped to the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. The No. 5 seed is the Dallas Mavericks, who have an identical record but hold the tiebreaker over Los Angeles. Both teams remain a game ahead of the No. 7 seed, the Portland Trail Blazers (35-28).

• Los Angeles hosts the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night in the second game of a three-game homestand. James finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 32 minutes against the Kings. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said the 36-year-old James would not have a minutes restriction and the team would be responsible with his playing time moving forward.

• The Raptors (26-38) will face the Lakers in the second half of a road back-to-back after losing a hard-fought 106-102 game to the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Returning to the lineup after missing a game with a nagging hip injury, Fred VanVleet led the Raptors, scoring 21 of his team-high 30 points in the first half.

• Losers of four of their past five games, the Raptors will finish a four-game road swing with Sunday’s game against the Lakers and a Tuesday contest with the Los Angeles Clippers. Toronto is three games behind the Washington Wizards for the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. Seeds 7 through 10 will qualify for the playoff play-in round.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Los Angeles Lakers
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