NBA Betting Odds April 8: Raptors-Hornets, Celtics-76ers
Carrie Stroup here with your NBA betting odds for April 8 and a look at the Raptors-Hornets and Celtics-76ers games.
TORONTO RAPTORS (45-32) at CHARLOTTE HORNETS (33-44)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Toronto -3.5, Total: 198.0
The Raptors look to avoid a third straight loss when they face the Hornets in Charlotte Wednesday.
The Raptors hosted the Celtics on Saturday and lost 117-116 as 3-point home favorites. Toronto has now lost its past two games both SU and ATS, allowing 115.5 PPG in those contests. The team will need to play much better defensively, as it won three straight games before this losing streak and allowed less than 100 points in each of those games.
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The Hornets lost 105-100 in Miami on Tuesday and the team has now lost two of its past three games SU. Charlotte can still make the playoffs in the East, but the team would likely need to win out or come close to doing so. The Hornets have really dominated the Raptors recently, going 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS versus the team over the past three seasons. They have been even more dominant when playing in Charlotte, winning eight straight games SU and covering in seven of those contests.
The Raptors are 35-21 ATS after failing to cover the spread in two or more consecutive games over the past three seasons. The Hornets, however, are 56-43 ATS as an underdog over the past two seasons. PF Amir Johnson (Ankle) is questionable for the Raptors, who are already without PG Kyle Lowry (Back) indefinitely. C Al Jefferson (Knee) and PF Cody Zeller (Shoulder) are expected to miss this game for the Hornets, who are without SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Ankle) indefinitely.
The Raptors have lost two straight games and must start to win some games so that they can build confidence heading into the playoffs. If the Raptors are going to win without Lowry on Wednesday then SG DeMar DeRozan (19.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG) will need to be on his game.
DeRozan had 38 points and three assists in 43 minutes against the Celtics last game and that followed up a 27-point performance against the Nets the day before. In his only meeting with Charlotte this season, the guard had 30 points in 39 minutes of action. He’ll need to attack the rim and knock down some midrange jumpers against a Hornets team that will be without its best defender in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
SG Lou Williams (15.4 PPG, 1.1 SPG) will also need to step it up against the Hornets. He’s seen increased minutes lately and is averaging 25.0 PPG in 33.5 MPG over the past two contests. Williams can really score and will need to provide a punch with Lowry out of the lineup.
C Jonas Valanciunas (12.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.2 BPG) had 12 points, 14 boards and a block in 33 minutes against the Celtics last game. The big man will need to protect the rim in this game and add a consistent scoring presence inside. If he can dominate a Hornets team that will be without Al Jefferson then DeMar DeRozan will have a lot more room to operate on Wednesday.
The Hornets are still fighting for a playoff spot, but the team is also dealing with a number of injuries. In order to beat the Raptors on Wednesday, PG Kemba Walker (17.9 PPG, 5.1 APG, 1.5 SPG) must play at a high level. Over the past two games, Walker is averaging 20.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG. He’s going to be up against a Raptors team that is without Kyle Lowry, who is the team’s best perimeter defender. He must use his speed to get to the basket and set things up for his teammates.
SG Gerald Henderson (12.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.6 APG) has been shooting the ball extremely well recently, going 6-for-11 from the outside over the past five games. He had 29 points and three rebounds in 31 minutes before fouling out against the Heat last game and must really hold his own in his matchup with DeMar DeRozan on Wednesday. If he is not playing well then it will be extremely difficult for this team to win and ultimately stay in the playoff hunt.
C Bismack Biyombo (4.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.5 BPG) had 12 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals in 41 minutes of action against the Heat Tuesday. He is starting for this team with Jefferson out and will need to play solid defensively on Jonas Valanciunas. Biyombo has blocked 10 shots in the past three games and must continue to protect the rim and also avoid getting into foul trouble.
BOSTON RED SOX (1-0) at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (0-1)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Boston -140, Philadelphia +130, Total: 7.5
The Phillies look to rebound from the pounding they took from this Boston Red Sox group in the opener when they meet in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
The Red Sox come into this year off a poor 2014 season, but made a flurry of moves in the offseason in order to improve and it certainly paid off on Opening Day. In the game they won 8-0 over this Phillies team behind nine hits and one of their newer acquisitions, OF Hanley Ramirez, jacked two HRs (5 RBIs) as longtime Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia hit a pair of long balls himself. The other big offseason signing, 3B Pablo Sandoval, did not get in the groove early, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
Philadelphia is in a transition phase and has shed a few of its bigger contracts in an effort to improve its future. If Monday’s contest was a foreshadowing of the season to come, the Phillies are in trouble as they managed a meager three hits as they went 0-for-3 with RISP. The 1-3 hitters were particularly poor, combining to go 0-for-12 with four strikeouts.
The pitching matchup in this game will feature 26-year-old youngster RHP Rick Porcello (15-13, 3.43 ERA in 2014) and RHP Aaron Harang (12-12, 3.57 ERA in 2014); both making debuts with their new teams. Neither team did well last year, finishing last in their respective divisions as Boston was a poor 37-44 (.457) when on the road as Philadelphia put up the same 37-44 record (.457) as the home team. The Red Sox win in the first game of this series upped their record to 3-2 against the Phillies over the past three seasons, outscoring them 30-12 in that time.
Trends show us that Philadelphia is a mere 44-59 (.427) in home games against AL East opponents since 1997 as Boston is a poor 34-43 (.442) as a favorite of -110 or higher in the past two seasons. The injury report has closer Koji Uehara (Hamstring) on the 15-day DL for the Red Sox as the Phillies are still without OF Dominic Brown (Achillies) for a little longer.
Porcello was a tremendous starter in his time with the Tigers, putting together a career 76-63 record despite being just 26-years-old as he’s had double-digit wins in each of the past five seasons. He hit 200+ innings for the first time last year as he posted a career-best 3.43 ERA, but saw his strikeouts drop to a mere 5.7 K/9. With the fewer strikeouts came fewer walks, giving up just 1.8 BB/9 as he allowed a meager 0.79 homeruns per nine frames. Porcello has seen this opponent just once in his career when he grabbed a win behind six innings of three-run ball (7 hits) with three strikeouts. He hasn’t had much of a chance to face many of these National League opponents, but has seen OF Ben Revere 19 times, giving up seven hits (1 triple, 2 RBIs) and failing to strike him out. Only one other player, OF Grady Sizemore, has double-digit at-bats against the righty and he is only 3-for-18 (.167) in that time with three strikeouts.
The Sox bullpen was solid last year, going 21-27 (.438) with a 3.33 ERA (1.27 WHIP) as they successfully saved 36-of-54 (67%) games. Junichi Tazawa (0.00 ERA, 0 saves) will hold down the closers role until Uehara comes off the disabled list and he is coming off a solid 2014 campaign when he struck out better than a batter per inning and had a 2.86 ERA over 63.0 IP.
Harang really had an impressive bounce-back season in 2014 with the Braves, getting a career-best 3.57 ERA as he struck out over seven batters per nine innings for the second consecutive year. He didn’t allow many balls to leave the park during the season, with a mere 0.66 HR/9 as he also left a solid 74.8% of runners on base. It will be tough to imagine that he can repeat this type of performance once again as he eclipsed 200 innings for the first time since 2007 and has a career ERA of 4.21. Harang has gone 2-2 (2-3 team record) with a poor 5.08 ERA (1.48 WHIP) when facing the Red Sox and his team has lost each of his past two meetings with them.
OF Hanley Ramirez could continue an early surge as he’s gone 10-for-29 (.345) against the veteran with five homers and seven RBIs while DH David Ortiz (5-for-11, 3 doubles, 1 HR, six RBIs) has also been great when facing him. On the other hand, 3B Pablo Sandoval (5-for-26, 4 Ks) has not seen the ball well coming out of Harang’s hand.
Philadelphia’s bullpen was decent last year, going 26-24 (.520) with a 3.64 ERA (1.28 WHIP) as they were 40-for-56 (.714) in save opportunities. Jonathan Papelbon (2.04 ERA, 39 saves) will be the closer for the Phillies for the fourth straight year and in his time here he is 106-for-121 (88%) in save chances.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
