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Struggling Raptors host Spurs on Tuesday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 1/24/2017  at  10:51:00 AM
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SAN ANTONIO SPURS (35-9)

at TORONTO RAPTORS (28-16)

Tip-off: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: San Antonio -2.5, Total: 206.0

The Spurs will be going for their fifth straight win when they face the Raptors on Tuesday.

San Antonio is red-hot right now, as the team has now won four straight games and 15 of its past 19. The Spurs were in Brooklyn on Monday night, and they won that game 112-86 as 8.5-point favorites. SF Kawhi Leonard (Hand) sat out that game, but he’ll likely be back in the lineup for this one against the Raptors. Toronto is going to be a desperate team in this one, as the Raptors have lost three straight games against inferior competition (Philadelphia, Charlotte, Phoenix). They’ll also be out for some revenge, as the Spurs beat them 110-82 as six-point home favorites in San Antonio on Jan. 3. It was the Spurs’ second straight victory over the Raptors, and Toronto could really use a confidence-boosting win here. One trend worth pointing out is that the Spurs are an impressive 14-4 ATS after scoring 110 points or more this season. They are, however, facing a Raptors team that is a ridiculous 12-1 ATS after a home game where both teams score 100 or more points this season. As previously mentioned, Leonard is expected to be back in the lineup for San Antonio. SG Manu Ginobili (Back) is, however, questionable, and the Spurs will already be without PG Tony Parker (Ankle) and C Pau Gasol (Hand). The Raptors, meanwhile, are without SG DeMar DeRozan (Ankle), and PF Patrick Patterson (Knee) is questionable.

The Spurs are rolling this season, and their 35-9 record is once again being overlooked because of the Warriors. Still, San Antonio is one of the best teams in the league on both sides of the court this season. The Spurs are scoring 111.7 points per 100 possessions on the season (4th in NBA) and they are allowing just 101.6 (3rd in NBA). Those are some absurd numbers, and SF Kawhi Leonard (25.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.8 SPG) is a big reason for both of them. Leonard has been ridiculous offensively this season, shooting 49.0% from the floor, 41.3% from three and 91.2% from the line. If he is able to give it a go on Tuesday then it’s likely that San Antonio will have no trouble winning. PF LaMarcus Aldridge (17.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.1 BPG) could be in for a huge game on Tuesday. Aldridge is one of the best shooters in the league, but he does most of his damage in the mid-range. Aldridge is scoring 35.9% of his points from there (1st in NBA), and he should have no trouble shooting over the Raptors’ forwards in this one. One guy that could be an x-factor in this game is, however, PF David Lee (6.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG). An injury to Gasol has allowed Lee to play 25 or more minutes in each of the past three games, and he is averaging 13.0 PPG and 11.3 RPG in that span. Lee is still an excellent low-post scorer, and he should make an impact in this one.

The Raptors have lost three straight games, and being without SG DeMar DeRozan (27.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.2 SPG) is certainly not going to make anything easier. DeRozan is one of the best scorers in the league, and Toronto will struggle to get buckets without him. With DeRozan out, PG Kyle Lowry (22.1 PPG, 7.0 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.7 SPG) must really take his game to another level. Lowry is shooting 47.0% from the floor and 42.9% from three this season, but he is going to need to hoist more shots on Tuesday. He has taken less than 20 shots in 12 straight games, and he’ll likely need to fire at least 20 on Tuesday. If he does not do that then it’s hard to imagine the Raptors finding a way to keep this game close. Guys like SF Terrence Ross (10.4 PPG, 1.1 SPG) and PG Cory Joseph (9.0 PPG) will also need to step it up in this one. Ross will see extended minutes with DeRozan out, as he is one of the purest scorers the Raptors have. Joseph, meanwhile, could see more time in two point guard lineups, and he is always a threat to go off for Toronto. Joseph is one of the better backup guards in the league, and he’ll be amped up to play against his former team in this one. It’s just important that he gets his outside shot going, as he is just 1-for-8 from three over the past five games.


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