Phoenix (22-33) at Toronto (40-15)
When: Friday, February 21st, 2020
Where: Scotiabank Arena,
Toronto, Ontario
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: FS Arizona
Opening Odds: Toronto -6.5/225.5
With 27 games left in the regular season, the Toronto Raptors are looking to lock-down at least the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with an outside shot at catching the Milwaukee Bucks. The latter seems a little unlikely, so the goal for Toronto is to hold off Boston, which is 1.5 games behind the Raptors. Toronto hasn’t lost back-to-back games since Dec. 23 and 25 and look to avoid that fate Friday when they come out of the All-Star break hosting the Phoenix Suns. The Raptors’ franchise-record 15-game winning streak came to an end right before the All-Star Break when they team seemed tired in a 101-91 setback at the Brooklyn Nets. Phoenix, meanwhile, is looking to get hot or it’s likely they will miss the postseason for a 10th consecutive season and finish with a losing record for the sixth straight year. The Suns are 6.5 games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference, but won their final game before the break – 112-106 over Golden State. It’s the first meeting of the season between the Suns and Raptors, with Toronto heading to Phoenix on March 3 in the midst of a five-game trip. The Raptors have taken the past four in the series including a 111-109 home win last year as Pascal Siakam scored on a left-handed layup as time expired. Phoenix is 9-1-1 against the spread in its past 11 in Toronto.
Phoenix has been going through some injury bugs with center Aron Baynes out since Jan. 18, former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton and Dario Saric have both missed recent games with ankle injuries. All are expected back on Friday. Devin Booker was the Suns’ lone All-Star this year after he was added late as an injury replacement. He competed in the Three-Point Contest and lost it on the final shot to Sacramento’s Buddy Hield. Booker is 10th in the NBA in averaging 26.4 ppg, but ranks seventh in the league since Christmas at 29.0 points per game. His next 30-point game will be No. 86 career, which would tie Amare Stoudemire for most in franchise history. Small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. went into the break cold, shooting 36.4 percent over his last three games, including 6-of-23 from beyond the arc. The Suns will be in Chicago to face the Bulls tomorrow night.
With a .727 winning percentage, this season’s Raptors are slightly ahead of where the 2018-19 team finished in the regular season despite not having Leonard. Marc Gasol hasn’t played since Jan. 28 due to a hamstring injury but might return Friday – he’s listed as questionable. Norman Powell (fractured left ring finger) remains out indefinitely. Toronto had a pair of players on Team Giannis on Sunday with forward Pascal Siakam starting and scoring 15 points in 18 minutes and Kyle Lowry coming off the bench with 13 points and eight assists in 28 minutes. Serge Ibaka is coming off a 28-point effort in the last game versus Brooklyn and drained 5-of-10 from 3-point territory. This starts a four-game homestand, with the big one next Tuesday vs. the Bucks. Toronto hasn’t lost at Scotiabank Arena since Jan. 12 vs. DeMar DeRozan and the Spurs.
Phoenix should be close to 100 percent healthy, but they still don’t have enough to keep this one close. The Raptors have been one of the hottest teams around and should be ready for a second half run starting tonight.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Friday. He is 60-51-3 on the season!
Pick: Raptors -7.5
Suns are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Suns are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Suns are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Suns are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Suns are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Suns are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Suns are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Suns are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Suns are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
Raptors are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite.
Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
Raptors are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Raptors are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 4-0 in Suns last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Suns last 4 Friday games.
Under is 5-1 in Suns last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Suns last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Suns last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 4-1 in Suns last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-0 in Raptors last 5 games as a home favorite.
Over is 4-0 in Raptors last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 5-0 in Raptors last 5 home games.
Over is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 overall.
Over is 5-1 in Raptors last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 games as a favorite.
Over is 4-1 in Raptors last 5 Friday games.
Over is 13-5 in Raptors last 18 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 12-5-1 in Raptors last 18 games following a ATS loss.
Suns are 20-5-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings.
Suns are 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Toronto.
