Raptors vs Wizards Odds, Spread & Predictions (Mar. 2)
By Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The Raptors vs Wizards odds are a pick’em ahead of Thursday night’s tilt
- Kristaps Porzingis does not carry an injury designation after sitting out the last two games
- Get the latest Raptors vs Wizards odds here, plus injury updates and predictions
The Raptors pursuit of a top-six seed continues on Thursday as they travel to Washington to face the Wizards. Toronto (31-32, 11-19 away) has posted an 8-2 record in its last 10 games, but still remain four games back of the East’s final playoff spot.
They are two and a half games clear of a Play-In Tournament berth in the NBA playoff bracket, and a game ahead of Washington (29-32, 14-13 home) for ninth place.
Online sportsbooks project a very close battle between the two East squads, opening the game as a pick’em in Thursday’s NBA odds.
Raptors vs Wizards Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Raptors | pk (-110) | -110 | OFF |
| Washington Wizards | pk (-110) | -110 | OFF |
The Raptors and Wizards are both -110 on the moneyline, in a game without a total as of Wednesday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, and will mark the first of two meetings over the next three days.
Odds as of March 1 at DraftKings Sportsbook.Â
Raptors vs Wizards Betting Trends
Toronto is fresh off a 104-98 victory over the Bulls. The Raps have reeled off three wins in four outings since the All-Star Break, and have won five of six overall.
Fred VanVleet made his return after a three-game absence due to personal reasons, and while he didn’t provide much offense, he did facilitate plenty of open looks. VanVleet finished with just three points, but led the team with nine assists. Pascal Siakam led the way with 20 points, while four others scored in double figures.
The Raptors have a pretty legit rotation. Remember this is virtually the same roster that won 48 games and pushed the 76ers to six games last season PLUS Jakob Poeltl and Will Barton. 👀 pic.twitter.com/xhvEnxrtPH
— 306 Raptors (@306Raptors) March 1, 2023
Toronto has been an underwhelming offense for most of the season, but one thing they do have is balance. Six players average at least 14 points per night, and they’ve finally found a solution at center with Jakob Poeltl. The 7-footer has scored 14 or more points in four of his last six games, and has made an even bigger impact on defense.
Poeltl has 14 blocks and 13 steals in his past six starts, while averaging 10 boards per night. The Raps have held two of their past three opponents below 100 points, and rank fifth in defensive rating over the past 10 games. Granted, they haven’t faced many NBA Championship odds contenders over that stretch, but let’s face it, the Wizards are far from a title contender themselves.
Washington snapped a two-game losing streak in their last outing, knocking off Atlanta on the road. They did so without second leading scorer Kristaps Porzingis, who sat out his second straight game with a knee injury. Porzingis was listed as questionable for this game early on Wednesday, but that tag was removed by the afternoon and he’s now good to go.
NBA LINEUP ALERT: Wizards C Kristaps Porzingis (knee) does not carry an injury designation for Thursday's game vs. the Raptors. pic.twitter.com/OJP010TtH6
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) March 1, 2023
Bradley Beal picked up the slack versus the Hawks, pouring in 37 points. It was his fifth 32+ point performance of the month, and Washington is 11-5 in the last 16 games he’s suited up for.
The Wizards offense has been rolling lately with a healthy Beal, as they rank fourth in offensive rating over the last eight games. Adding Porzingis back into the fold dramatically boosts their ceiling, as it gives them three legit scorers along with Kyle Kuzma.
Raptors vs Wizards Predictions
Defense has been the issue all season long for the Wiz, as they rank 20th in defensive rating. Toronto won’t necessarily expose that, but they will make Washington’s life miserable on the glass. The Raps have the fourth highest offensive rebounding percentage in the league, and those extra possessions will help overcome any offensive efficiency issues.
Toronto is also great at forcing turnovers, and does an excellent job of taking care of the ball. That generates more possessions for them as well, and can help swing a game.
NBA Defensive Rating Ranks – Last 10 Games
| Team | Rank |
|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls | 1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 2 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 3 |
| Orlando Magic | 4 |
| Toronto Raptors | 5 |
The turnover effect, plus Toronto superior defense has me circling the Raptors for this matchup. Toronto is extremely long and athletic at every position outside point guard, which will give Beal and the rest of the Wizards fits.
Back the Raptors for now and consider a play on the under once the total is released. Toronto has seen four straight games fall short of the total thanks to their excellent defense, and this game should underwhelm offensively as well in spite of Porzingis’ return.
Pick: Toronto Raptors Moneyline (-110)
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
