Indiana Pacers (47-32 SU, 46-33 ATS) vs. Toronto Raptors (56-22 SU, 41-37 ATS)
Time: Friday, April 6th, 2018 7:35 PM EDT
Where: Air Canada Centre Toronto, ON
TV: FSN / SPORTSNET
by Keith, Professional NBA Handicapper, Predictem
Odds Indiana +270, Toronto – 340
Point Spread: Toronto -7.5
Total Line: 209 (Over +105)
The Toronto Raptors will take on hosting duties as they welcome the Indiana Pacers in a highly-touted Eastern Conference clash to the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The tip-off is 7:35 PM ET and is set to be aired on both FSN and SPORTSNET. Both teams have earned qualification to the post-season, but the Raptors are sitting exceptionally pretty with the number one seed all but locked in. Against each other, the Raptors and the Pacers have been fairly paired and evenly matched. The last four contests between both sides resulted in with two wins per team. The two teams convened earlier in March Indiana, where the Raptors handled the Pacers by a score of 106-99.
The two teams both enter off wins. However, Indiana’s win is bound to generate a lot of press and fanfare. Last night, the Pacers defeated the defending champion Golden State Warriors at home by a score of 126-106. The result in itself is bound to create an enormous overreaction from the public by the gravity of the victory. Toronto also tooled up Boston in a pivotal Eastern Conference clash for playoff seeding when they smashed the Celtics by a score of 96-78.
There are many betting trends worth fixing on in this contest. First off, the Raptors are a serious problem to deal with in Toronto. The Raptors are 32-7 SU in the Great White North. Indiana has done alright on the road despite this, as they are 20-19 SU away from home. Previous to Torontos most recent win, the home team in this series had won nine consecutive games in a row.
The Pacers defense is one the variable that makes them a dangerous bunch in this contest. This physical style of play was instrumental in them securing a dominant win against the NBA best team last night. The mojo that Indiana has from that win is also another intangible that the Pacers can hang their hat on in this contest.
There are many reasons for backing Toronto in this contest. First and foremost, the Raps obviously compete at a high level they play at home. This angle is reflected in the Raptors’ prolific performance against a vaunted Boston defense. The offense of the Raptors found ways to generate points, and as a result, Boston had no answers when it came to the Great White North.
From the get-go, we have seen an early lean materialize on the Pacers. This lean is indicated in the Raptors opening as an eight-point favorite before the line fell to 7.5 where it currently stands. In Over/Under markets, we saw a two-point decrease to reflect action coming in on the Under in this contest. Presently, the Over bodes a price tag of +105. See what other public handicappers are taking right here>>> NBA Picks for Today.
In a scenario such as this one, we would typically champion the importance of considering Toronto’s home court performance as a means for books to inflict lofty numbers against Raptors takers. However, in this spot that is null and void. The Pacer victory over Golden State is one that many will be talking about. Sadly, Indiana will not have much time to marinade in the glory of it all. Indiana is saddled with a tough task of playing their best game perhaps all season to follow up with a quick road trip to a challenging environment. The set-up is one that puts Indiana bettors in position for a huge let down where the Pacers can lay an egg and come in flat. In this case, we will go ahead and swallow the points.
KEITHs PICK: Toronto -7.5