Toronto Raptors vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 01/11/2024, 06:02  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 01/11/2024 at 06:04 in NBA Predictions

The Los Angeles Lakers will make the trip to Scotiabank Arena to face the Toronto Raptors in the NBA on Saturday morning. The Raps (1-4) are 13th in the Eastern Conference, while the Lakers (3-2) are sixth in the West. Let’s get into the match prediction. 

The Toronto Raptors have stumbled out of the starting blocks this season, and will now be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after coming up short 138-133 against the Hornets on Thursday. 

RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick both crossed the 30-point mark in the defeat and Jakob Poeltl put up 20, but they made a very slow start in Q1 and found themselves fighting uphill the entire match. 

The Raptors are a top-10 team on offence this season, averaging 116.0 PPG. On defence, though, they are ranked joint-last in the NBA, allowing 124.0 PPG to date. 

Meanwhile, after notching up back-to-back wins at the start of the campaign, the Los Angeles Lakers have cooled and are also hoping to avoid a third straight loss this weekend. 

In their last outing, the Lakers ran into the unbeaten Cavaliers and lost 134-110, with LeBron James leading the team with 26 points against his former employers, while Anthony Davis added 22. 

Despite AD’s dominance on the glass, the Lakers are still allowing 117.8 PPG (22nd in the league), with opponents draining a shade below 50% of shots against them.