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Raptors vs. Clippers Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
May 3, 2021
by Joe Williams
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Toronto Raptors (27-38) wrap up their road trip with a battle against the Los Angeles Clippers (43-22) on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET at Staples Center. The game is nationally televised on TNT.

The Raptors picked up a 121-114 victory as 10-point underdogs against the Los Angeles Lakers on this very same court on Sunday, and they have covered in each of the past two games.

The Clippers are on a three-game losing skid, including a 110-104 setback against the visiting Denver Nuggets on Saturday as 5.5-point favorites. The UNDER connected for the fifth consecutive outing, while failing to cover in each of the past four contests.

Raptors vs. Clippers Betting Resources

Betting Odds - Nuggets vs. Lakers

Line Movements

Subject to Change

  • Spread: Los Angeles -8.5
  • Money-Line: Clippers -400, Raptors +315
  • Total: 221.5

The Clippers are favored by more than four buckets in this home battle against the Raptors, who are playing in the final contest of a four-game road trip. Toronto is looking for the Los Angeles sweep after surprising the Lakers by a 121-114 score as 10-point underdogs, serving as another cautionary tale why you should never back a heavy favorite on the money line. It's just not a good long-term betting strategy.

Prior to their win over the Lakers, the only win for the Raptors since April 21 as a 112-96 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 121 points for Toronto was its most since dropping 135 points in a 20-point win in Cleveland on April 10 as three-point underdogs.

The total is set at 221.5. The Raps hit the OVER in the most recent outing against the Lakers, but they haven't hit the OVER in consecutive games since April 14-16. The Clippers are coming off an UNDER against the Nuggets, and they have gone under in five straight outings.


Toronto goes for the L.A. sweep at Staples Center on Wednesday night when the Raptors battle the Clippers. (AP)

Raptors vs. Clippers Current Form-Last Game

The Raptors used a 40-21 second quarter to push ahead of the Lakers, taking a 72-59 lead at halftime. They kept the Lakers are arm's length all night, hanging on for the 121-114 win. The Clippers lost for the third straight outing, falling to the Nuggets 110-104, and they have failed to cover in four in a row.

The Clips had five players in double digits in that loss to Denver, but they didn't shoot particularly well. Paul George really struggled, hitting just five of his 21 field-goal attempts. Yes, he finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, but it was a struggle. The only effective starter was Kawhi Leonard, who hit 7-of-12 to finish with 16 points, six assists and five rebounds with a pair of triples. DeMarcus Cousins was also sharp off the bench, going for 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 14 minutes.

The Raptors were covering for all but a minute or two in Sunday's win over the Lakers. Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry were a tremendous one-two punch. Siakam went for a game-high 39 points with 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots while making 15-of-26 from the field, while Lowry dropped in 37 points with 11 assists on 12-of-20 shooting. Overall the Raps hit 42-of-94 (45.0%) from the field, including 15 three-pointers.

Raptors vs. Clippers Head-to-Head

  • Dec. 11, 2019 - Clippers 112 at Raptors 92, L.A. -2.5, Under 222.5
  • Nov. 11, 2019 - Clippers 98 vs. Raptors 88, L.A. -9.5, Under 221.5

This is the first meeting of the season, as they teams will also meet in Tampa next Tuesday. The way the Clippers handled them last season, the Raptors were probably quite glad not to have to face L.A.

The UNDER hit in each of the two meetings last season, and that's been the theme when these two teams get together. The UNDER is 5-1 across the past six meetings, and 13 of the past 17 battles at Staples Center between the Clips and Raps have cashed UNDER.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Toronto Raptors Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 27-37 SU, 28-36 ATS, 35-29 OU
  • Road: 11-21 SU, 13-19 ATS, 21-11 OU

The Raptors snapped a three-game losing skid with the seven-point win over the Lakers, and they have covered in back-to-back contests as an underdog of seven or more points. In fact, Toronto has covered in seven consecutive as an underdog of 5.5 or more points since failing to cover Jan. 27 as a 6.5-point 'dog against Milwaukee.

Overall, the Raptors are 7-3 ATS across the past 10 games, and they're 4-1 ATS in the past five when working on a day of rest. However, Toronto is just 3-8 ATS in the past 11 games against teams with a winning straight-up record, while cashing in three of the past 13 games on the road.

The OVER has hit in 17 of the past 25 games on the road for Toronto, while connecting in seven of the past 10 as an underdog.

L.A. Clippers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 43-22 SU, 36-28-1 ATS, 33-31 OU
  • Home: 24-9 SU, 20-13 ATS, 17-15-1 OU

Los Angeles has hit the skids with three straight losses to New Orleans, Phoenix and Denver from April 26-May 1 after a four-game win streak. The Clippers have failed to cover in each of the past four, too, while hitting the UNDER in five consecutive outings.

The Clippers are favored, and lately that hasn't meant good things. L.A. is 0-4 ATS in the previous four as a favorite, although they are 10-4 ATS in the past 14 games as a favorite. They're also 12-4 ATS across the past 16 games at Staples Center, too.

Not only have the Clips cashed the UNDER in five straight, the UNDER is 7-0 in their past seven following a straight-up loss, and the UNDER is 4-0 in their past four when working on two days of rest, too. The UNDER is also 5-1 in their past six as a favorite, 4-1 in the past five against losing teams and 7-3 in the previous 10 at home, too.

Key Injuries

Toronto Raptors

  • SG Gary Trent, Jr.: Leg - Questionable
  • PF Chris Boucher: Knee - Out
  • PG Patrick Watson: Knee - Out

L.A. Clippers

  • C Serge Ibaka: Back - Out
  • PG Patrick Beverley: Hand - Out

Raptors vs. Clippers Prediction

The Raptors pulled off the upset of the Lakers in the front end of their two-game stop at Staples Center, but they're not going to sneak up on the Clippers. Yes, L.A. is really struggling lately, dropping three in a row, but they're primed for a breakout game against a team limping to the finish line of its road trip.

Los Angeles has dominated this series in the past, with the UNDER cashing on a rather frequent basis, too. Why mess with what has worked in the past?

Score Prediction: Clippers 115, Raptors 101
Best Bet: UNDER 221.5

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