Game 1 Predictions & Odds: Nets vs. Raptors

• August 16, 2020
• By Michael Crosson
• VegasInsider.com

One of the most anticipated NBA Playoff seasons of all-time will kick off on Monday in Orlando, Florida as 16 teams square off in the NBA Bubble. In the second Eastern Conference matchup on Monday's slate, the No. 2 seeded Toronto Raptors will start their title defense against the No. 7 Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 of their opening series.

Betting Resources

• Matchup: Game 1
• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• Location: Orlando, Florida
• Date: Monday, Aug. 17, 2020
• Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | All

Betting Odds - Nets vs. Raptors

With no Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in the bubble, there is no doubt the Nets are longshots coming into this series, opening as 10.5-point underdogs in their opening matchup, and +1800 series underdogs against Toronto. Most books have shifted the line down to -9.5 for the Raptors, indicating some early action from the public in favor of Brooklyn in the first game of this Eastern Conference Round 1 matchup.

The total (over-under) for this contest opened at 224 points, but the public has leaned towards the under in this game, expecting a spike in defensive effort across the league in the first round of the playoffs, bringing the line down to 222.

Point-Spread Odds

• Raptors -9.5
• Nets +9.5

Money-Line Odds

• Raptors -500 (Bet $100 to win $20)
• Nets +400 (Bet $100 to win $400)

Total Odds

• Over 222
• Under 222

Series Odds

• Raptors -8000
• Nets +1800

Inside the Betting Stats

(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS)

Overall

• Brooklyn: 35-37 SU, 37-35 ATS
• Toronto: 53-19 SU, 40-29-3

Bubble

• Brooklyn: 5-3 SU, 6-2 ATS
• Toronto: 7-1 SU, 6-2 ATS

With Devin Booker and the Suns going undefeated in the bubble, the Nets success in the bubble has been somehow overshadowed, Brooklyn sneaking off to a 5-3 start in Orlando, including wins over the Bucks and Clippers, and a 6-1 record ATS in their last seven games.

Dating back to March 3rd of this year, the Raptors are 11-1 in their last 12 games SU and are 7-1 ATS inside the bubble. The under is 5-2-1 for the Raptors in Disney’s Wide World of Sports, and I believe that trend is something to keep an eye on throughout these playoffs, as the Raptors have ranked 1st in defensive rating in the NBA reseeding games (102.7).

Brooklyn, on the other hand, has ran at the 8th fastest pace out of the 22 teams in the bubble (103.25), ranking right behind the Pelicans (7th – 103.57) who typically run at an incredibly fast pace.

Over-Under Total Notes Totals Report

Overall

• Brooklyn: 36-36 O/U
• Toronto: 38-39-3 O/U

Bubble

• Brooklyn: O/U
• Toronto: 2-5-1 O/U