NBA Free Picks & Predictions: New Orleans Pelicans @ Toronto Raptors

And we’re back. The new season will get underway at the fortress of the reigning NBA champions, who will host the Pelicans all the way from The Big Easy.

The Raptors will be keen to get off to a winning start as will the Pelicans. But it will be a tough season for both teams as they’ve seen their marquee players switch over to LA in pursuit of a title.

Will the Raptors start where they left off?

• 01New Orleans Pelicans (3.40) vs Toronto Raptors (1.37)
• 02Raptors consistent scoring throughout, Raptors over 119.5 (1.95)
• 03Parlay Play: Raptors to win & Raptors first to 12 points
• 04Raptors keep the Pelicans at bay, Raptors to win & score under 232.5

New Orleans Pelicans (3.40) vs Toronto Raptors (1.37)

The success of last season is going to be almost impossible to replicate for the Raptors. They have lost their main man Kawhi Leonard, but still retain potential All-Stars in Kyle Lowrey and Pascal Siakam.

The results in preseason haven’t been anything to call home about, but with a couple of wins and losses, one against the Houston Rockets, they end their preseason on 2-2.

The Raptors have a lot of new faces, but who will make the biggest impact?

The Pelicans had a fairly underwhelming 2018/19 season, finishing 13th in the Western Conference. However, New Orleans have looked sharp in preseason recording a record of 4-0.

The first of our NBA free picks for the 2019/20 season, so let’s start as we mean to go on.

Take Toronto Raptors to get off to a winning start.

Raptors consistent scoring throughout, Raptors over 119.5 (1.95)

As the defending champions, the Toronto side will be hungry to get on the court and prove that last season wasn’t a flukey, flash in the pan type of season.

But as we so often see in sport, the desire of players to replicate the glory of winning a title the very next season, is a hard thing to manage.

The Raptors have scored over 119.5 in 2 of their last 4. Although the Pelicans have had a very fruitful preseason, they have been consistent in shipping points to their opponents. This pick has excellent NBA betting odds across a variety of sportsbooks.

Watch out for a high score from the Raptors and for it to go over 119.5.

Parlay Play: Raptors to win & Raptors first to 12 points

The Raptors lost Kawhi Leonard and guard Danny Green in the off-season. But with Pascal Siakam recently signing an extension he could be a solid replacement. He’s the team’s leading scorer with 16.9 points and 6.9 rebounds.

The Cameroonian alongside Serge Ibaka (15 points, 8.1 rebounds), Kyle Lowry (14.2 points, 8.7 assists) and Fred VanVleet (11 points, 4.8 assists) are going to have to step up this season.

The Pelicans haven’t had too much trouble finding the net in preseason, but we expect the momentum from last season’s title to carry on and the homeside to come out flying.

Expect Raptors to win and be the first to 12 points.

Raptors keep the Pelicans at bay, Raptors to win & score under 232.5

One of the biggest upsets about this game, not so much for the Raptors, but certainly Pelicans fans and us neutrals, is the absence of rookie Zion Williamson.

The hype surrounding this young man has been overwhelming. The Pelicans also signed shooting guard J.J. Redick on a free, which will no doubt help them to get points this season.

As it's the first game of the season, we feel this is going to be a high-scoring affair. We already know what the Raptors can do with the ball, and defensively they’ll be able to shut out the Pelicans enough.

Take Raptors to win and overall score to be under 232.5.