Gameday: Raptors @ Spurs, April 13
Believe it or not, the final game for the Toronto Raptors this season has come as they’ll take on the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Two weeks ago it looked like this game might be huge when it comes to lottery seeding, but in the time since the Raptors have locked into the seventh-best odds, while the Spurs are locked into the eighth-best odds.
Raptors Outlook: 30-51 | 11th in Eastern Conference | Off rating: 109.5 (26th) | Def rating: 113.6 (14th) | Net rating: -4.1 (24th)
Raptors Previous Results
@ Dallas L 124-102
vs Charlotte W 126-96
@ Brooklyn W 120-109
vs Detroit L 117-105
vs Portland L 112-103
The Raptors will finish their season on a two-game Texas road trip and will look to finish the second half stronger than how the front end of the trip went. Toronto got abused against the Dallas Mavericks, despite Ochai Agbaji going for 24 points, six rebounds, and three steals while draining a whopping six threes. It was the Anthony Davis show instead, going for a near quadruple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and seven blocks.
Despite the poor defensive performance in the last one, the biggest improvement area the Raptors have seen this season has been their defence, as Darko Rajakovic’s squad has stepped on that end. The defensive side of the ball is no joke now for Toronto, as they held the league’s best defensive rating through March (106.9) and have one of the best defensive ratings in the NBA since mid-January.
However, the injury report is long for the Raptors in this one, with Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jakob Poeltl, and others all out. The latter, however, has been crucial for the Raptors in the win column. Without the Austrian big man in the lineup, Toronto has gone 6-13 without their starting centre this season and 10-41 without him over the past two years.
Spurs Outlook: 33-48 | 13th in Western Conference | Off rating: 113.4 (19th) | Def rating: 116.4 (25th) | Net rating: -2.9 (22nd)
Spurs Previous Results
@ Phoenix L 117-98
@ Golden State W 114-111
@ Los Angeles (Clippers) L 122-117
@ Portland L 120-109
vs Cleveland L 114-113
San Antonio returns home for the final game of the season after going 1-3 on their four-game road trip. Their last win was as memorable as they come, however, with Harrison Barnes hitting a prayer deep pull-up three for the win against the Golden State Warriors, his former team. While the Raptors are injured, the Spurs are injured themselves, including the alien. Victor Wembanyama has been ruled out since Feb. 20 with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Since then, the Spurs haven’t been very good, predictably, going 9-19.
Filling the 7-foot-5 Wembanyama’s size 20 shoes has been former Raptor Bismack Biyombo. The 32-year-old has played 27 games for San Antonio this season, averaging 5.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.7 stocks.
Game Info
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m. ET
Television: TSN
Radio: TSN 1050
Starting Lineups (Projected)
San Antonio Spurs
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Stephon Castle
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Julian Champagnie
C: Bismack Biyombo
Toronto Raptors
PG: Jamal Shead
SG: Jamison Battle
SF: Ochai Agbaji
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Jonathan Mogbo
Injury Report
Spurs
Keldon Johnson (Ankle) – Questionable
Devin Vassell (Ankle) – Out
Victor Wembanyama (Blood Clot) – Out
Jeremy Sochan (Back) – Out
De’Aaron Fox (Finger) – Out
Riley Minix (Shoulder) – Out
Raptors
Jakob Poeltl (Hand) – Out
RJ Barrett (Rest) – Out
Immanuel Quickley (Rest) – Out
Ulrich Chomche (Knee) – Out
Jared Rhoden (Shoulder) – Out
Brandon Ingram (Ankle) – Out
Gradey Dick (Knee) – Out
Ja’Kobe Walter (Hip) – Out
Lines
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
| San Antonio Spurs | -6 (-106) | -240 | O 228.5 (-110) |
| Toronto Raptors | +6 (-114) | +198 | U 228.5 (-110) |
*Odds as of Apr. 13, 12:00 am ET*
All Toronto Raptors odds are provided by NBA Betting Site Betway!
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