Lakers are Looking to Build on Winning Streak Against Raptors
The Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers will meet on Sunday at STAPLES Center. The Lakers are improving in some areas after getting a warning from the front office. Rumors are swirling Luke Walton is borrowed time. TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles). Line: Raptors -3; O/U: 238 The Lakers have responded to increased pressure from the front office. They have a shot at their first three-game winning streak of the season on Sunday. President of basketball operations Magic Johnson put some heat on coach Luke Walton in a recent meeting. The Lakers eked out a one-point victory over Dallas at home and followed it up with a solid showing at Portland on Saturday. Rajon Rondo had his best effort with Los Angeles with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists. He also had three steals off the bench. LeBron James finished with 28 points in Saturday’s 114-110 victory. The Lakers’ chances at pulling to .500 for the first time would be a lot better if the Raptors are without star swingman Kawhi Leonard. He is dealing with a foot injury. The two-time All-Star is already planning to sit out one game of back-to-back sets and Toronto plays at Utah on Monday. The Raptors are 8-1 on the season and have proven they may be a major player in the Eastern Conference race. Leonard had 19 points and Kyle Lowry added 11 points and 12 assists in Friday’s 107-98 victory at Phoenix. The win began a four-game road trip. Lowry has at least 10 assists in a career-high seven straight games. He leads the NBA with an average of 11.2. Toronto shot 50.6 percent from the floor while recording 11 steals and 10 blocks. They held an opponent to fewer than 100 points for the first time this season. The Lakers are 4-5 on the season and show signs of becoming a much better squad. Los Angeles got a big effort from center JaVale McGee. He had 12 points, nine rebounds, six blocks against Portland. Chandler will soon have more support underneath in the form of veteran Tyson Chandler. The 36-year-old averaged 9.1 rebounds in 25 minutes through 46 games with Phoenix last season. He reportedly will sign with the team after clearing waivers on a contract buyout with the Suns. He will join a bench that provided 51 points on 21-of-32 shooting Saturday night. PREDICTION: Raptors 113, Lakers 111
NBA Betting Odds & Trends
| Toronto Raptors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Toronto is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games | ||
| Toronto is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 8 of Toronto’s last 10 games | ||
| Toronto is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games on the road | ||
| Toronto is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games on the road | ||
| Toronto is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing LA Lakers | ||
| Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing LA Lakers | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 14 of Toronto’s last 21 games when playing LA Lakers | ||
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto’s last 7 games when playing LA Lakers | ||
| Toronto is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers | ||
| Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers | ||
| Toronto is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers | ||
Los Angeles Lakers |
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|---|---|---|
| LA Lakers is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games | ||
| LA Lakers is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games | ||
| LA Lakers is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games | ||
| LA Lakers is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home | ||
| LA Lakers is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home | ||
| LA Lakers is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Toronto | ||
| LA Lakers is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 14 of LA Lakers’s last 21 games when playing Toronto | ||
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Lakers’s last 7 games when playing Toronto | ||
| LA Lakers is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Toronto | ||
| LA Lakers is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Toronto | ||
| LA Lakers is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto | ||