In a display that highlighted their current vulnerabilities, the Toronto Raptors were on the receiving end of a humbling 41-point defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. This event not only emphasized the team’s struggles in maintaining consistency but also shed light on the glaring absences of Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl, whose injuries have significantly hampered the Raptors’ gameplay on both ends of the court.
With their sights now set on a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, they seem to be eyeing a position in the bottom six to secure a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. This approach, suggestive of a long-term rebuilding plan, underscores the franchise’s focus on regrouping and strengthening its roster for future contention. This phase represents not just a test of their resilience but also an opportunity to lay down the groundwork for a hopeful resurgence in a year or two.
Bet on Raptors vs. Suns
TOR +10.5
PHX -10.5
Let’s look at the betting odds for this upcoming matchup via bet365:
Raptors vs. Suns odds
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | +390 |
| Suns Moneyline Odds | -525 |
| Over/Under | 231 points (over -110, under -110) |
| Spread | Suns -10.5 (-110) |
| Time/Date | March 7, 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: SN1 Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
All odds courtesy of 
About the Raptors (23-39 SU, 29-33 ATS, 32-30 o/u)
In the midst of a challenging season where losses are becoming more frequent than victories, the Raptors are finding silver linings in their performance that hint at a brighter future. Despite the adversity faced on the scoreboard, the team showcased its depth and potential in their latest outing. A notable highlight was the balanced scoring effort from the squad, with four players tallying 15 or more points in a testament to the team’s offensive distribution.
Leading the charge for the Raptors was Immanuel Quickley, who put up an impressive stat line of 17 points, complemented by his contributions across the board with seven rebounds and seven assists. Gary Trent Jr. also made a significant impact, scoring 16 points on an efficient 50% shooting from the field. Adding to the collective effort, RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk each contributed 15 points, alongside grabbing six rebounds apiece. Olynyk’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he rounded out his contributions with seven assists, two steals, and two blocks.
The Raptors are positioned to capitalize on the Suns’ defensive vulnerabilities in their upcoming matchup. The Suns’ tendency to concede the sixth-most points to point guards signals a promising scenario for Quickley to maximize his scoring potential. On the other hand, the Suns allowing the sixth-most assists to shooting guards could pave the way for Barrett to thrive as a facilitator, exploiting these gaps in Phoenix’s defence. However, the Suns present a sterner challenge for small forwards, being the second stingiest in allowing points to players at this position, which might necessitate a strategic shift for the Raptors’ offence.
With Ochai Agbaji stepping into the power forward role with Scottie’s injury, the Raptors face a challenging matchup against the Suns, who are adept at limiting rebounds and assists to power forwards, ranking fourth and second, respectively. Moreover, the Suns’ defensive structure is relatively robust against centres, surrendering the third least rebounds, which might limit Olynyk’s effectiveness on the boards. Nevertheless, Phoenix does allow the fifth-most assists to centres, offering Olynyk a unique opportunity to contribute significantly through playmaking, despite the anticipated challenges in scoring and rebounding. This matchup requires the Raptors to leverage specific strengths while navigating around the Suns’ defensive fortitudes.
About the Suns (36-26 SU, 25-35-2 ATS, 27-35 o/u)
Following an exhilarating overtime victory against the reigning NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, the Suns are riding a wave of momentum as they prepare to return to their home court for a matchup against the Raptors. Kevin Durant emerged as the pivotal force behind their victory with his stellar performance of a game-high 35 points, along with eight rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, underscored his critical role in the Suns’ offensive and defensive schemes. An additional standout from the game was Grayson Allen, whose remarkable scoring spree in the first half set the tone for the Suns. Allen’s explosive start saw him rack up 22 points in the initial two quarters, a display of shooting prowess that energized his team and the fans. By the end of the contest, Allen had compiled an impressive stat line of 28 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, earning him an honourable mention for his significant contribution to the Suns’ hard-fought victory.
The Raptors have demonstrated a robust defence against point guards, allowing the second least points in the league to players at this position, potentially challenging Bradley Beal, the Suns’ current point guard in the absence of Devin Booker, to find scoring opportunities. However, this strength is contrasted by the Raptors’ tendency to allow the second most assists, indicating a potential for Beal to pivot his game towards facilitating plays and orchestrating the offence more effectively. However, the dynamic shifts when considering the Raptors’ susceptibility to small forwards, which emerges as a strategic opportunity for the Suns. Royce O’Neale and Durant are poised to leverage this particular weakness in the Raptors’ defence. Their potential to exploit the gap and score, coupled with the possibility of generating crucial plays, could serve as a key advantage for the Suns in this anticipated matchup, balancing the scales and tipping them in Phoenix’s favour.
Bradley Beal over 5.5 assists
+110
Injury concerns
- Barnes suffered a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand in Friday’s loss to the Warriors and is considered out indefinitely.
- Poeltl is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left pinkie finger.
- Bruce Brown (knee) won’t play.
- Booker (ankle) won’t play.
- Josh Okogie (abdomen) is out.
- Nassir Little (knee) is out.
Betting trends
- The under is 5-0 in Phoenix’s last five home games.
- Phoenix is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games.
- The over is 20-8 in Toronto’s past 28 road games.
- The Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their last four games.
Player prop trends
- Barrett has scored over 21.5 points in four of his last five games coming off an injury. He’s averaging 20.5 points for the season as a Raptor. His line is at -115 to score over 21.5 points against the Suns.
- Quickley has made over 2.5 threes in five of his last six games. He’s is averaging three threes per game for the season as a Raptor. His line is at -155 to make over 2.5 threes against the Suns.
- Beal has dished over 5.5 assists in his last two games coming back from injury when playing over 30 minutes. He averages 4.5 assists for the season. His line is at +110 to dish over 5.5 assists against the Raptors.
Wagers to consider
- Parlay – Quickley over 19.5 points; Beal over 5.5 assists: +280. The Suns allow alot of points to point guards while the Raptors give up a ton of assists to point guards.
- Over 231 total points: -110. This game should be a high-scoring game with defence being non-existent for the Raptors without Scottie or Poeltl.
