Preview, Prediction and Betting Picks

The Toronto Raptors (8-9, 7-10 ATS) and the Golden State Warriors (8-9, 7-10 ATS) meet for the first time this season Sunday, 8:30 PM, at Chase Center.

Fresh from snapping a three-game losing skid, the Raptors opened the betting lines as nine-point underdogs to the Warriors – the best team in the league thus far. BetUS has placed the O/U at 216 points, banking on a strong belief that both teams will exceed 100 points or the Warriors will explode for 120 points again.

Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Lines

ATS: Warriors -9

Moneyline: Raptors +340, Warriors -420

O/U: 216 points

Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors Team News

Josh Lewenberg of TSN observes that former All-Star forward Pascal Siakam is starting to get his legs under him after returning from a shoulder injury. Siakam delivered his best game of the season with a 32-point, eight-rebound output in a win over the Kings. This came after he scored just four points vs. the Jazz. The former Most Improved Player of the Year told the NBA scribe that he hadn’t reached his peak condition yet. However, the Raptors star remains committed to working his way to his level before injury.

“Last game I felt like I was running in mud the whole game,” Siakam said. “It’s just waking up every day continuing to push forward knowing it’s going to be tough, but once I get that rhythm and my legs under me I know what I can do, and I have to focus on that,” Siakam said.

Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported that Klay Thompson could make his return a week leading up to Christmas. The All-Star sharpshooter last suited up for the Warriors in Game 5 of the 2019 Finals series with the Raptors. In that game, he suffered an ACL injury. Thompson attempted to make a return during the 2020-2021 season but a right Achilles tear he suffered during a team workout delayed his NBA return by one more season.

Klay Thompson has been cleared to be a full participant at Warriors practice and is on track to make his return a week within Christmas, per @ShamsCharania, @anthonyVslater pic.twitter.com/m9942jeENL

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 21, 2021

Toronto Raptors vs Golden State Warriors Injury Report

Raptors: OG Anunoby – OUT (Hip), Yuta Watanabe – Questionable (Calf)

Warriors: Andre Iguodala – OUT (Knee), Stephen Curry – Probable (Hip), Klay Thompson – OUT (Achilles), Draymond Green – Probable (Thigh), Otto Porter Jr – Questionable (Foot), Gary Payton II – Questionable (Undisclosed), and James Wiseman – OUT (Knee).

Toronto Raptors vs Golden State Warriors Preview

Again, the Raptors are back in the winning column as they dispatched the struggling Sacramento Kings, 108-89. Apart from putting up All-Star numbers. Siakam also shot the ball at an efficient rate. The forward went 10-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point line. He also sank 9 of his 10 attempts from the charity stripe. The Raptors also got solid contributions from Gary Trent Jr (23 points) and Fred VanVleet (13 points and 6 assists).

The Warriors, on the other hand, have kept on racking up wins. After the Hornets handed him their second loss of the season, the Golden State scored three impressive wins against the Nets (117-99), Cavaliers (104-89), and the Pistons (105-102). Jordan Poole starred in the Warriors’ latest victory, exploding for 32 points on a 13-for-22 clip. Andrew Wiggins also continued his consistent play with 27 points and Nemanja Bjelic chipped in 14 off the bench.

Toronto Raptors vs Golden State Warriors Prediction

Depending on the availability of Steph Curry, the Warriors have a pretty good shot of extending their winning streak to four. The Raptors may have won two of the previous three head-to-head matchups with the home team, but this is a different Warriors team.

This season, Golden State lords over the league as the top offensive team in terms of points per game (113.88 PPG) and field goal (47.39 FG%). They have also emerged as one of the toughest defensive teams this year, hounding opponents to just 100.88 points and 42.2% FG.

The Warriors haven’t had any problem covering a handicap as large as 9 points, having defeated the Cavs and the Pelicans by double-digits in games where they were 9 points or more favorites. Moreover, the total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State’s last 6 games against Toronto. With the O/U set at 221 and the Warriors clamping opponents the past few weeks, the logical bet is on UNDER.