LA Lakers vs Toronto Raptors: Prediction and Betting Tips | April 2, 2024

The LA Lakers will travel to the Scotiabank Arena to face the Toronto Raptors during their ongoing road trip along the East Coast. If they secure a victory on Tuesday (Apr. 2), the Purple and Gold will be on equal footing with the Sacramento Kings, who are set to host the LA Clippers.

Despite their loss to the Indiana Pacers last week, the Lakers were on a five-game winning streak, which was only broken temporarily. They quickly bounced back with a 116-104 victory against the Brooklyn Nets, thanks to LeBron James’ impressive 40-point performance. Looking at the statistics, it seems highly likely that LA will emerge victorious against Toronto, especially since the opposing team will be missing some key players and have suffered 13 consecutive losses.

In the 54 regular season games they have played against each other, the Lakers have consistently held a lead over the Raptors, with a current score of 32-22. In their most recent meeting in January of this season, the Lakers narrowly won with a final score of 132-131. Despite the strong performance of the Raptors’ Pascal Siakam and the addition of new players such as RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, they were unable to defeat the Lakers’ Anthony Davis, who dominated the game with 41 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

LA Lakers vs Toronto Raptors: A Matchup of NBA Powerhouses

The game between the Lakers and the Raptors will begin at 7 pm ET and will be broadcasted on both TSN and Spectrum SportsNet. Additionally, fans have the option to watch the game through the NBA League Pass.

The Lakers are favored at -1000 on the moneyline, while the Raptors are the underdogs at +600.

Total (over/under): The total for the LA Lakers is set at 231.5, while the total for the Raptors is set at under 231.5.

Preview: LA Lakers vs Toronto Raptors

The Lakers are poised to continue their winning streak as the regular season draws to a close. If they secure a victory on Tuesday and another on Wednesday against the Washington Wizards, they will create a bigger gap between themselves and the 10th-ranked Golden State Warriors, who pose a threat due to their easier schedule.

The Raptors are a team that the Lakers cannot afford to lose to, even if they choose to rest key players such as LeBron James or Anthony Davis for the game.

Despite their efforts this season, Toronto has faced numerous challenges. They currently hold rankings of 26th in rebounding, 23rd in offensive rating, and 25th in defensive rating, all areas where LA has the advantage.

In addition, the team is currently facing injuries. Chris Boucher (MCL tear), Jontay Porter (personal reasons), Ochai Agabji (right hip contusion), D.J. Carton (right ankle sprain), and Scottie Barnes (left-hand fracture) have all been declared unavailable. On a positive note, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are expected to play.

The Lakers have designated Anthony Davis (suffering from a left knee hyperextension) and LeBron James (experiencing left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) as questionable. Both Jarred Vanderbilt (dealing with a right midfoot sprain) and Jalen Hood-Schifino (recovering from back disc surgery) are currently unable to play.

Christian Wood (left knee effusion) and Cam Reddish (personal reasons) are also part of the team. However, Gabe Vincent, who recently returned to play, will not be participating in the upcoming match.

NBA Game Preview: Los Angeles Lakers vs Toronto Raptors

The Lakers will continue to utilize their successful strategy, with D’Angelo Russell as the starting point guard and Austin Reaves as the shooting guard. LeBron James will play small forward, Rui Hachimura at power forward, and Anthony Davis at center, making up the starting lineup for LA. Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie, Max Christie, and Jaxson Hayes will be available off the bench.

The Raptors will have Immanuel Quickley starting at PG, Javon Freeman-Liberty at SG, Bruce Brown at SF, RJ Barrett at PF, and Kelly Olynyk at C. As for substitutions, they have Jalen McDaniels, Kobi Simmons, Mohammed Gueye, and Garrett Temple available.

NBA Betting Tips: LA Lakers vs Toronto Raptors

Anthony Davis is the player to keep an eye on as he enters the competition with an over/under of 26.5 (-106 for over and -129 for under). LeBron James has an over/under of 25.5 with -1025 for over and -109 for under. RJ Barrett is expected to score 19.5 points upon his return to the game.

NBA Matchup Prediction: LA Lakers vs Toronto Raptors

The Lakers’ strong defense will be crucial in neutralizing the threat posed by Barrett and Quickley. However, they must not underestimate the injury-plagued team and treat this as just another game. The Lakers are predicted to come out on top in this matchup.