Toronto (43-17) at Washington (36-26)
When: Friday, March 2nd 2018
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Toronto -4/219
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The Washington Wizards will look to pull even with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference when they host a hot Toronto Raptors team on Friday night in D.C. The Wizards currently occupy the No. 4 spot in the East, but are just a half-game behind the Cavaliers after the 76ers won in Cleveland last night. Washington beat the Raptors 122-119 on February 1st when Bradley Beal exploded for 25 of his 27 points in the second half. Beal is coming off a terrible game on Wednesday, when he was held to eight points on 3-of-15 shooting in a 109-101 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The Raptors are clinging to the top spot in the Eastern Conference and are winners of 11 of their last 13 games, with one of the two losses coming at Washington. Toronto began its two-game road trip by taking care of the Orlando Magic 117-104 on Wednesday and won its two games this week by a total of 42 points. The Raptors are a half-game ahead of the Boston Celtics in the East and will play three consecutive sub-.500 teams after Friday’s contest with Washington. Toronto won its two previous trips to Washington before falling last month.
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The Raptors offense might run through guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, but it’s their bench who’s been playing a big role in the team’s recent success. Power forward Pascal Siakam finished off a strong February by scoring 14 points on Wednesday and is 26-of-35 from the floor over the last four games and shot 62.2% last month. Lowry is heating up, going 10-of-16 from 3-point range over the last two games. DeRozan led the Raptors with 21 points on Wednesday, but is just 3-for-20 from long distance over the last five contests. Toronto will host Charlotte on Sunday.
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Like Beal, center Marcin Gortat had a letdown game against Golden State after the Wizards won a pair of games over East playoff contenders – the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers – prior to the loss. Gortat played just 13 ineffective minutes, scoring just two points. The Polish product averages 8.6 points a game, but has cracked double-digits just once in the past seven games. Otto Porter Jr. scored 29 points on Wednesday and is 10-of-18 from 3-point range over the last three games and has scored above his 14.9-point average in six straight contests. Washington will host the Pacers on Sunday.
The Wizards have been playing really well against teams with a winning record, beating Cleveland, Philly, and Milwaukee the last few weeks and covering in a loss to Golden State. The Raptors are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine against teams with a winning record. I expect a close game to come down to the wire.
Pick: Wizards +3
- Raptors are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Raptors are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
- Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Raptors are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Raptors are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Raptors are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Raptors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 vs. NBA Southeast.
- Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Raptors are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Wizards are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Wizards are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Wizards are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Wizards are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Wizards are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Wizards are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Wizards are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Wizards are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Wizards are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Wizards are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win.
- Wizards are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
- Over is 6-0 in Raptors last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 9-2 in Raptors last 11 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Raptors last 6 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Raptors last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Raptors last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Raptors last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Raptors last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Wizards last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-1 in Wizards last 8 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Under is 5-1 in Wizards last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 9-2-1 in Wizards last 12 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 4-1 in Wizards last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Wizards last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Wizards last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Wizards last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 7-3 in Wizards last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Washington.
- Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
- Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
