Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Toronto Raptors Preview
As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to face off against the Toronto Raptors, they will be entering the game as underdogs for the first time this season, largely due to the absence of star players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The game is set to take place at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on February 24, starting at 7:30 PM ET.
Recent Matchup and Key Players
This matchup comes on the heels of a surprising victory for the Raptors when they previously faced the Thunder in January, where they managed to win despite being 11-point underdogs. The question now is whether Toronto can secure another win as the favorites in this upcoming game.
A noteworthy element in this matchup is Scottie Barnes, who recently returned from paternity leave after the birth of his child, and is in a prime position to make an impact given Oklahoma City’s struggles with rebounding, sitting 24th in the league for rebounding rate. The absence of Chet Holmgren, who is also dealing with injuries, exacerbates this issue. Therefore, a promising bet could be Barnes achieving a double-double at odds of +135, in line with his expected contributions in scoring and rebounding.
Three-Point Shooting and Betting Trends
Furthermore, the Thunder have been allowing a high number of three-point attempts, ranking 25th in opponent’s shooting percentage from beyond the arc. This presents an opportunity for Immanuel Quickley, who has been excelling with an average of 20.2 points and an impressive 48.3% shooting from three during his last 13 games. Quickley has consistently exceeded the 16.5 point mark in 13 of his last 18 games, making him a key player to watch.
Considering these dynamics, a same-game parlay could be constructed with Scottie Barnes not only hitting a double-double but also exceeding 17.5 points, along with over 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. For those inclined towards betting trends, it’s worth noting that the Raptors have seen the game total land under in 32 of their past 50 games, showcasing a potential betting angle for those looking to wager against the total points.
Betting Odds
As for the betting odds, the spread sits at Thunder +1.5 and Raptors -1.5, with moneyline odds of Thunder +105 and Raptors -125. The over/under line is set at 216.5 points. Fans can catch the action live on FDSN Oklahoma and TSN.
