The Toronto Raptors will be looking to open their new NBA campaign with a victory on Wednesday night when they host the New Orleans Pelicans as 4.5-point favourites on the NBA odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Toronto has a lot to prove as the team settles into its temporary home at Tampa Bay's Amalie Arena for Wednesday night's matchup. The Raptors came up short in their bid to defend their NBA title last summer, bowing out with a second-round loss to the Boston Celtics, and return to action well behind the favourites as a +3000 wager on the NBA championship odds.
In addition to being forced to play their home games south of the border due to ongoing travel restrictions, the Raptors also parted ways with two veterans that played key roles in the team's march to the title in 2019. Both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka left town as unrestricted free agents during the off-season. However, the club has locked up two key parts of its future by re-signing Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby to new deals.
The Raptors have been among the best performing teams on home hardwood over the past two seasons, but it remains to be seen how they will adjust to life in Tampa Bay. The team racked up a strong 32-9 straight-up home record last season, but slumped badly as the home side while playing in the NBA bubble, going a 5-5 SU and 4-6 against the spread in 10 total regular season and postseason contests.
However, Toronto has enjoyed steady success in recent meetings with the Pelicans, posting three straight outright and ATS wins, and going 9-1 SU in their past 10 meetings. The Raptors have regularly run up the score when facing New Orleans, topping 120 points in five of their past six clashes to fuel a 7-2 run for the OVER at betting sites.
The Pelicans open their regular season schedule looking to build on a pair of dominating wins in pre-season action. Led by Zion Williamson, the Pelicans marched to victories over Milwaukee and Miami by wide double-digit margins, but benefited in those contests from the absence of opposing starters like Jimmy Butler and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Overall, New Orleans has struggled in season openers, going 2-6 SU in their past eight, capped by last season's 130-122 overtime loss in Toronto as a 6.5-point underdog. However, with a young core led by Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, the Pelicans are poised to show improvement and are at +135 to return to the NBA playoffs this season.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiWGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNwb3J0c25ldC5jYS9uYmEvYXJ0aWNsZS9yYXB0b3JzLWhvc3QtcGVsaWNhbnMtZmF2b3VyaXRlcy1vcGVuLW5iYS1jYW1wYWlnbi_SAVdodHRwczovL3d3dy5zcG9ydHNuZXQuY2EvbmJhL3JhcHRvcnMtaG9zdC1wZWxpY2Fucy1mYXZvdXJpdGVzLW9wZW4tbmJhLWNhbXBhaWduL3NuLWFtcC8?oc=5
2020-12-22 20:55:00Z
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