San Antonio (33-26) at Toronto (43-16)
When: Friday, February 22nd, 2019
Where: Scotiabank Arena,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Toronto -10/231.5
The San Antonio Spurs are in the middle of their long Rodeo Road Trip that was broken-up by the All-Star Break and they will be looking to get back on track for a second half run. The Spurs, who are in seventh place in the Western Conference standings, will visit the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. The spotlight will surely be on San Antonio guard DeMar DeRozan, as he makes his return to Toronto where he started his career and is expected to be greeted with cheers. DeRozan, who was traded to the Spurs in the blockbuster deal last summer that sent Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto, is averaging 21.4 points for a Spurs team that is two games ahead of ninth-place Sacramento entering Thursday’s action in the West. DeRozan was a four-time All-Star for the Raptors and holds the franchise records for games played (675), minutes (22,986) and points (13,296). Toronto has gotten along without him while sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference coming out of the All-Star Break. The Raptors ended the first half with six straight wins and will get a struggling Spurs team that has lost four of the first five on their eight-game road trip. San Antonio whipped the Raptors 125-107 at home on January 3rd behind 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists from DeRozan.
San Antonio’s long trip has been a rough one so far with tough teams on the schedule including losses to Sacramento, Golden State, Portland and Utah before a 108-107 victory at Memphis in their last game. DeRozan is averaging 23.5 points on the road trek while All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge ended the first half with three straight double-doubles. San Antonio will end their trip this weekend with a back-to-back at New York and Brooklyn on Sunday and Monday before playing eight of their next 10 back in Texas. Point guard Derrick White (plantar fasciitis) sat out the last five games but is expected to return Friday.
While DeRozan failed to earn an All-Star bid in his first season in San Antonio, Leonard did and started for winning Team LeBron, scoring 19 points in 19 minutes. The Raptors are looking to win now and acquired former All-Star center Marc Gasol from the Grizzlies and are undefeated in three games with him in the lineup. Gasol has come off the bench in each of his first three games, averaging 10 points in 20 minutes. The Raptors are in the middle of a six-game homestand that see Orlando coming in on Sunday.
The Spurs needed a rest after struggling a bit entering the All-Star Break and should be more competitive as they wind up the road trip. The Raptors are the better team, but DeRozan recorded a triple-double against his old team last month and should help the Spurs keep this close.
Pick: Spurs +7.5
Spurs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Spurs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Spurs are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 vs. Eastern Conference.
Spurs are 25-8 ATS in their last 33 Friday games.
Spurs are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Spurs are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Spurs are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Spurs are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Spurs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Spurs are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Spurs are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Spurs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Spurs are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.
Raptors are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Southwest.
Raptors are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Raptors are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Raptors are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Over is 7-0 in Spurs last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-0 in Spurs last 4 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Over is 5-0 in Spurs last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 5-0 in Spurs last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 10-1 in Spurs last 11 overall.
Over is 7-1 in Spurs last 8 Friday games.
Over is 7-1 in Spurs last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Over is 6-1 in Spurs last 7 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Over is 6-1 in Spurs last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 23-5-1 in Spurs last 29 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 4-1 in Spurs last 5 games following a straight up win.
Over is 21-8-1 in Spurs last 30 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 37-16 in Spurs last 53 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 36-17-2 in Spurs last 55 road games.
Over is 33-16-2 in Spurs last 51 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-1 in Raptors last 8 vs. NBA Southwest.
Over is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 Friday games.
Under is 7-2 in Raptors last 9 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 home games.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Raptors last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Spurs are 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Toronto.
Home team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
