Game: Toronto at Cleveland
Tip-off: 7:35 pm ET
Line: Cleveland - 5.5
Total: 183.5
Angles/Analyses:
The Toronto Raptors look to snap a four-game losing streak and give their fading playoff hopes a boost on Friday night when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Toronto is 4 1/2 games behind Charlotte and Indiana for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors were 29-21 on February 10 but lost eight straight games without Vince Carter and are just 1-10 since he returned to the lineup.
The Raptors' last game was a disheartening 112-80 blowout loss at Minnesota on Tuesday. Morris Peterson came off the bench for 19 points but Carter, who was suffering from a strained left quadriceps, made just 5-of-14 shots for 10 points.
Toronto's free-fall has put coach Lenny Wilkens' job in jeopardy with former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy emerging as a possible candidate for the job. Speculation has also centered around the status of general manager Glen Grunwald, who has yet to respond to the team's struggles.
Cleveland failed in an attempt for a three-game winning streak on Wednesday as it suffered a 96-70 loss at Boston. Wesley Person scored 17 points but Andre Miller was just 4-of-14 for nine points and seven assists.
The Cavaliers have lost seven of their last 11 games and their last victory was a controversial one. Lamond Murray drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Cleveland a 100-97 victory over New Jersey on Tuesday but replays indicated that the clock did not start on time.
The teams have split their first two meetings this season. Carter poured in 34 points in a 101-91 home victory on January 4. Toronto announced Friday morning that Carter, the NBA's seventh-leading scorer, will have season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left knee next week to mend an injury which has bothered him since early February.
Miller had a triple-double with 22 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds as Cleveland posted a 99-81 victory here on February 12.
Favorable Trends:
Toronto:
2-10 ATS in their last 12 games.
Cleveland:
Cavs are 27-12-3 ATS when coming off a loss.
Pick2Play: Cleveland - 5.5 (5 units)
Good Luck,
Picks2Play
Tip-off: 7:35 pm ET
Line: Cleveland - 5.5
Total: 183.5
Angles/Analyses:
The Toronto Raptors look to snap a four-game losing streak and give their fading playoff hopes a boost on Friday night when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Toronto is 4 1/2 games behind Charlotte and Indiana for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors were 29-21 on February 10 but lost eight straight games without Vince Carter and are just 1-10 since he returned to the lineup.
The Raptors' last game was a disheartening 112-80 blowout loss at Minnesota on Tuesday. Morris Peterson came off the bench for 19 points but Carter, who was suffering from a strained left quadriceps, made just 5-of-14 shots for 10 points.
Toronto's free-fall has put coach Lenny Wilkens' job in jeopardy with former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy emerging as a possible candidate for the job. Speculation has also centered around the status of general manager Glen Grunwald, who has yet to respond to the team's struggles.
Cleveland failed in an attempt for a three-game winning streak on Wednesday as it suffered a 96-70 loss at Boston. Wesley Person scored 17 points but Andre Miller was just 4-of-14 for nine points and seven assists.
The Cavaliers have lost seven of their last 11 games and their last victory was a controversial one. Lamond Murray drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Cleveland a 100-97 victory over New Jersey on Tuesday but replays indicated that the clock did not start on time.
The teams have split their first two meetings this season. Carter poured in 34 points in a 101-91 home victory on January 4. Toronto announced Friday morning that Carter, the NBA's seventh-leading scorer, will have season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left knee next week to mend an injury which has bothered him since early February.
Miller had a triple-double with 22 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds as Cleveland posted a 99-81 victory here on February 12.
Favorable Trends:
Toronto:
2-10 ATS in their last 12 games.
Cleveland:
Cavs are 27-12-3 ATS when coming off a loss.
Pick2Play: Cleveland - 5.5 (5 units)
Good Luck, Picks2Play
