An exciting Atlantic Division game is set for Wednesday as the Brooklyn Nets welcome the Toronto Raptors. The Nets hold a 23-49 season record (11-23 at home), while the Raptors are 25-47 (9-26 on the road). Historically, Brooklyn has dominated this matchup, winning 8 of their last 10 encounters, though Toronto won their last game on New Year`s Day with a score of 130-113. In terms of betting against the spread for the 2024-25 NBA season, the Raptors are 42-28-2, and the Nets are 39-33.
The game will tip off at 7:30 PM ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Brooklyn Nets are currently favored by 2.5 points, and the over/under for total points is set at 215.
Betting Odds and Lines
- Spread: Nets -2.5
- Over/Under: 215 points
- Money Line: Nets -139, Raptors +117
Why the Nets Could Cover the Spread
Despite a recent loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Nets are boosted by the expected return of D`Angelo Russell, who missed the previous game due to an ankle issue. He is set to rejoin Nic Claxton in the lineup. Toronto will be playing shorthanded, missing several key players including Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl (rest), and Gradey Dick and Chris Boucher (injuries/illness).
Brooklyn`s defense is a key strength, ranking ninth in points allowed per game and eighth in limiting opponent`s three-pointers. Their recent head-to-head record against Toronto is also strong, with a 8-2 straight-up and 7-3 ATS record in their last 10 meetings.
Why the Raptors Could Cover the Spread
The Raptors broke a four-game losing streak in their last game against the Washington Wizards. It was a balanced team performance with five players scoring in double digits, and Scottie Barnes nearly achieved a triple-double. Rookie Jamal Shead has also been performing well, scoring over 10 points in five of his last six games.
Toronto excelled on the offensive boards in their last game, securing 17 offensive rebounds. This could be a key strategy against Brooklyn, who rank poorly in rebounding. Scottie Barnes has historically performed well against the Nets, averaging impressive stats in their recent matchups.
Model Prediction
A prediction model simulated this matchup 10,000 times and is leaning towards the Under, projecting a total of 205 points for the game. The model also suggests a strong point-spread pick with a high probability of success.
