An exciting Eastern Conference game is on Friday`s NBA schedule as the Charlotte Hornets visit the Toronto Raptors. Toronto`s season record is 26-47 overall and 16-21 at home, while Charlotte is 18-54 overall and 7-28 on the road. The Hornets won their only matchup earlier this season, ending a three-game winning streak for the Raptors in their head-to-head games. Toronto`s against the spread (ATS) record is 43-28-2 in the 2024-25 NBA season, while Charlotte`s is 34-36-2 ATS. LaMelo Ball (ankle) is out for Charlotte.
Tipoff is scheduled from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Raptors are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Hornets vs. Raptors odds, according to SportsLine consensus. The over/under is set at 215.5 points.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates each NBA game 10,000 times and has generated significant betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model is currently on a 153-113 run on all top-rated NBA picks since last season, returning nearly $4,000. It also boasts a 19-10 (65%) record on top-rated spread picks this season.
The model has focused on the Toronto vs. Charlotte game. Here are the NBA betting lines for Hornets vs. Raptors:
- Raptors vs. Hornets spread: Raptors -5.5
- Raptors vs. Hornets over/under: 215.5 points
- Raptors vs. Hornets money line: Raptors -216, Hornets +180
- CHO: The Hornets are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games
- TOR: The Under is 5-1 for Toronto in their last six games
- Raptors vs. Hornets picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Raptors vs. Hornets streaming: FuboTV (try for free)
Why the Hornets can cover
Toronto will be without its leading scorer, RJ Barrett, as well as Ochai Agbaji, and Gradey Dick (knee) is injured. This means Charlotte won`t have to face three double-digit scorers. Without them, the Raptors have only three active players averaging over 10 points per game. The Raptors` offense is already struggling, ranking 24th or worse in points per game, offensive rating, 3-point percentage, and free throw percentage.
Conversely, Charlotte has shown they can score a lot of points, putting 138 on Toronto in their first matchup this season. That`s the second-highest score for the Hornets this year and the third-highest allowed by the Raptors. The Hornets should capitalize on free throws, as Toronto fouls opponents more often than any other team, which aligns with one of Charlotte`s strengths. They are shooting an impressive 87.1% from the free-throw line in their last 10 games, a percentage that would be the highest in NBA history over a full season. See which team to pick here.
Why the Raptors can cover
Despite a challenging season that places Toronto just outside the NBA play-in spots, the Raptors have performed well against the spread. They hold the best ATS record in the Eastern Conference and the second-best in the NBA. They are also in a favorable position regarding rest, having last played on Wednesday. Toronto is 30-12 ATS when they have one day of rest, compared to being below .500 ATS in other rest scenarios.
Charlotte, focused more on draft positioning rather than playoff contention, will be without their key offensive player, Ball. He leads the NBA in usage percentage, meaning the Hornets operate with a significantly different, and less effective, offense without him. This is reflected in Charlotte`s record: 16-31 when Ball plays and a historically poor 2-23 when he is out. See which team to pick here.
How to make Raptors vs. Hornets picks
The model has simulated Hornets vs. Raptors 10,000 times, and the projections are available. The model is leaning towards the Under, predicting 215 points, and indicates that one side of the spread has over a 50% chance of hitting. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So, who will win between Raptors and Hornets, and which side of the spread is more likely to hit based on over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Hornets vs. Raptors spread to bet on, all from a model with a 153-113 record on top-rated NBA picks since last season.
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