The 2020 NBA Playoffs begin on Monday afternoon, with the Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets taking the floor at 4 p.m. ET in the first game on the Eastern Conference side. The Raptors, entering as the No. 2 seed, operate as substantial favorites in the series, while the Nets will attempt to pull the upset as the No. 7 seed in the East. Jamal Crawford (hamstring) is out for the Nets, with Patrick McCaw (knee) and Oshae Brissett (knee) set to miss the game for the Raptors.
William Hill lists Toronto as the 9.5-point favorite in Orlando, down half a point from the opening Nets vs. Raptors odds. The total number of points expected, or the over-under, is 222.5. Before making Raptors vs. Nets picks, see the NBA predictions from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it's already returned well over $4,700 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks this season. It entered the week on a blistering 58-32 run on top-rated NBA spread picks, returning almost $2,300 on those picks alone. Amazingly, it hasn't missed a single top-rated pick (5-0) since the NBA's restart in July. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Raptors vs. Nets. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA odds from William Hill and trends for Nets vs. Raptors:
- Raptors vs. Nets spread: Raptors -9.5
- Raptors vs. Nets over-under: 222.5 points
- Raptors vs. Nets money line: Raptors -550, Nets +425
- TOR: The Raptors are 6-2 against the spread in the last eight games
- BKL: The Nets are 6-2 against the spread in the last eight games
Why the Raptors can cover
The Raptors are rightly known for their defensive prowess, but Toronto does have considerable offensive talent as well. Pascal Siakam is the best player in the series, averaging 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season, and he is flanked by an All-NBA guard in Kyle Lowry, averaging 19.4 points and 7.5 assists per game.
Toronto should also be able to protect the ball in this matchup, with the Nets ranking near the bottom of the league in turnover creation, and the Raptors have edges at almost every position. Defensively, Toronto is as good as advertised, ranking No. 2 in the NBA in defensive efficiency and No. 1 in the same category when focusing only on the league's restart in Orlando. The Raptors are deep, talented and well-coached, constructing a potent overall formula for success.
Why the Nets can cover
While Brooklyn's roster is decimated by injuries, illnesses and opt-outs, the Nets were incredibly competitive in the seeding games. Part of that stems from a team-wide dedication to playing hard, but the Nets also have strengths to draw from against the Raptors. Offensively, Brooklyn will fight an uphill battle against an elite defense, but the Nets rank in the top-eight in the NBA on the offensive glass.
Given that defensive rebounding is perhaps Toronto's biggest weakness on that end of the floor, that could bode well for Brooklyn. Defensively, the Nets are better overall, and that includes a top-five mark in the NBA in effective field-goal percentage allowed. Brooklyn also does a good job keeping its opponents off the free-throw line, which could help to limit Toronto's offensive efficiency.
How to make Raptors vs. Nets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total with Siakam and Garrett Temple projected to fall short of their scoring averages. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Raptors vs. Nets? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Nets vs. Raptors spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up over $4,700 on its top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
