Toronto eyes bounce-back W vs. Los Angeles
Despite Kyle Lowry’s best efforts, the Raptors lost a heartbreaker to Sacramento on Sunday. Does that make them even deadlier heading into tonight’s showdown against the Clippers?
Two of the NBA’s elite offensive squads are set to do battle, with a 10:30 p.m. ET tip at Staples Center. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives Los Angeles odds of -500 to take care of business at home. Conversely, Dwane Casey’s club represents a +350 underdog.
Just 18 hours ago, Toronto dropped a 102-99 decision to the fifth-worst team in the Western Conference. It certainly wasn’t Lowry’s fault, though, as the two-time All-Star had 25 points and six assists. His all-around brilliance helped mask a rare off-game for DeMar DeRozan, who converted only 3 of 15 shots from the floor.
While the Raptors will surely be motivated to improve to 5-2 on the road, the Clips have other ideas. Doc Rivers’ group holds the league’s top record at 12-2. Most recently, Chris Paul & Co. handed the very capable Bulls a 102-95 defeat.
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Toronto actually swept last season’s two meetings, registering double-digit victories in both affairs. Yet these Clippers are gaining widespread acclaim for their suffocating defense. We expect the Pacific Division titans put the clamps down on a fatigued crew from the Great White North.
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