The Toronto Raptors will face the Phoenix Suns on March 7 (Thursday). It will be the second and final meeting between the two teams this season, with the Raptors winning the first one. But their roster is much different now. Toronto traded OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and other players at the deadline last month. The upcoming contest will be the 55th regular-season meeting between the Raptors and the Suns.
Preview
The Toronto Raptors are coming off a disastrous 139-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at home. They will now start their four-game trip that begins on Thursday against the Suns and ends on March 13 against the Detroit Pistons.
The Phoenix Suns are coming off a win against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. They played that game without Devin Booker but managed to take the victory 117-107 in overtime.
Starting lineup
The Toronto Raptors have five players on the injury report, including Scottie Barnes, Bruce Brown Jr. and Jakob Poeltl. They are expected to start with Immanuel Quickley, Gary Trent Jr, RJ Barrett, Jordan Nwora and Kelly Olynyk.
On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns will be without four players, including Devin Booker. They are expected to start with Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic.
Betting tips
Kevin Durant’s over/under for the upcoming contest is 29.5 points. He is projected to score at least 30 points. However, “KD” has reached 30 points only twice in his last 10 games. You can bet on him to go over because Devin Booker will not be playing in the upcoming game.
Bradley Beal is expected to go over 20.5 points and score at least 22 points against the Raptors. He has scored 21 points or more in his last three contests. You can bet on him to go over.
RJ Barrett is projected to score more than 21.5 points against the Suns. He has only failed to score more than 22 points once in his last five games.
Also Read: Chicago Bulls vs Golden State Warriors: Prediction (2024)
Prediction
The Phoenix Suns are heavy favorites to win against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. They are currently playing much better basketball than the Raptors. Oddsmakers have predicted that the Suns will win the game and cover the spread. The total is expected to go over.
