They say 20 games is deep enough into the regular season for NBA betting enthusiasts to start drawing some conclusions about the teams and players. But that rule of thumb applies better in some cases than others. For example, we still haven’t seen the 2024-25 Toronto Raptors in their final form. How competitive will the Raptors (6-15 SU, 14-7 ATS) be once they have their complete set of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, plus their full Bench Mob of capable veterans and tantalizing prospects?
If all goes well, we could have the answer in time for the holidays. We probably won’t see Quickley (elbow) return until mid-December at the earliest, but there’s every chance that Quickley, Gradey Dick (calf), Kelly Olynyk (back) and/or Bruce Brown (knee) will suit up at some point during this seven-game home stand, which ends December 22 when former Raptor Fred VanVleet and the Houston Rockets come to town.
Given how well the Raps have played with both Barnes and Barrett in action – especially at home, where they’re 5-4 SU and 7-2 ATS thus far – maybe those first 20 games do have a lot to tell us about Toronto’s short-term chances. Let’s take a closer look with our weekly top five NBA betting preview here at Bodog Sportsbook.
5. Sacramento Kings at San Antonio Spurs (Friday, Dec. 6)
No matter how much talent the Kings (9-12 SU, 7-13-1 ATS) put on the court, they can’t seem to generate any consistent results. Balance was always going to be an issue when they acquired Toronto legend DeMar DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls; that trade also saw Sacramento ship Harrison Barnes and a first-round pick to the Spurs (11-9 SU and ATS), who are on a big-time roll right now at 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six.
The most recent result for both teams was Sunday’s 127-125 victory by the Spurs (+6 away). DeRozan led all Kings with 28 points on a respectable 10-of-20 shooting, but he was also 0-of-1 from downtown, in a league that’s proving beyond the shadow of a doubt how important 3-pointers are. Just look at the Spurs; they shot 23-of-46 in this game, with Victor Wembanyama going 5-for-9 en route to his 34-point triple-double. Bet on more of the same in Friday’s rematch.
4. Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers (Sunday, Dec. 8)
Speaking of VanVleet, his Rockets (15-6 SU and ATS) are second in the Western Conference standings as we go to press. That rebuild didn’t take long; while Cam Whitmore seems to have fallen off the radar, we’ve seen huge strides from swingmen Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, especially on defence. Canada’s own superpest Dillon Brooks has also improved at both ends, becoming a truly viable 3-and-D player by hitting a career high 38.1% from long range.
Having said that, the Clippers (13-9 SU, 14-7-1 ATS) have exceeded expectations while they wait for Raptors ex-saviour Kawhi Leonard (knee) to make his season debut. The Clips don’t have Paul George either now that he’s in Philadelphia, but they still have James Harden, and none other than Norman Powell has slipped into that sidekick role alongside Harden with a team-high 23.6 points per game.
Powell’s another former Raptor and Toronto favourite, but still not that well known south of the border. Given how well both teams are performing, consider giving the point spread a pass in this matchup, and hit those Norman Powell props at Bodog instead.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder at Toronto Raptors (Thursday, Dec. 5)
The first of Toronto’s three games before their NBA Cup break features their most difficult opponent. Oklahoma City (15-5 SU, 11-7-2 ATS) is first in the West, with the league’s best defence at 101.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. But their offence ranks only No. 14 overall at 111.2 points scored, in part because centre Chet Holmgren (16.4 points per game) is out long-term with an injured hip.
Conveniently enough for OKC, centre Isaiah Hartenstein (15.2 points per game) is back in action, so their form is pretty much where it was before Holmgren got hurt. Canada’s own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring his requisite 30.0 points per game, and he’s getting Scottie Pippen levels of help from Jalen Williams (21.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.1 steals). As with Powell, you’ll probably get more betting value on those Jalen Williams props than with Shai – if you’re willing to bet against Toronto shutting him down.
2. Dallas Mavericks at Toronto Raptors (Saturday, Dec. 7)
Beating Dallas (13-8 SU, 12-8-1 ATS) won’t be easy, either. They’re 8-1 SU and ATS in their last nine after a slow start, a streak that includes upset road wins over Oklahoma City (+7), Denver (+4.5) and Atlanta (+2.5).
There is one weak spot on this team: Klay Thompson. The former four-time NBA All-Star and champion with the Golden State Warriors is scoring just 13.2 points per game on a career-low 36.8% shooting from behind the arc. Thompson has missed the last four games with left foot plantar fasciitis and is considered day-to-day, but if he’s back in action for Saturday, the Under looks like the right choice for those Klay Thompson props.
1. New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors (Monday, Dec. 9)
If Toronto is going to win at least one game this week, it’ll probably be the last game before their extended NBA Cup break – the Raptors having already been eliminated. The Knicks (12-8 SU, 9-10-1 ATS) have gotten the help they sorely needed this year from centre Karl-Anthony Towns, but Mikal Bridges has been a disappointment after 20 games, and Jalen Brunson’s defence appears to have vanished somewhere along the way.
You just know RJ Barrett will want to punish his former team Monday night. He was deemed a “toxic asset” and a throw-in alongside Quickley in the OG Anunoby trade; instead, Barrett has thrived in Toronto, working as a de facto point guard while Barnes does “point forward” things. It’s a recipe for future success. Take advantage by hitting up those RJ Barrett props at Bodog Sportsbook, your home for the best NBA betting on the web, and come back next week for more Raptors tips and analysis.