Here’s a little piece of trivia: The Toronto Raptors have lost 6 consecutive NBA playoffs games, that includes their Game 1 loss to the Indiana pacer in 2016. The number 2 team in the eastern conference went down against a combative and determined Indiana squad 100-90. The Pacers found in their star player Paul George put up 33 points and looked like he is back to his better days. Toronto was ice cold for a large part of the game and in the end it cost they dearly as they gave the first game to the +7 underdogs.
With this win, the Indiana Pacers were able to take away the home court advantage from the Raptors, forcing Toronto to win whenever the series goes to Indiana. In the regular season, Indiana kept a 26-15 home record. The Pacers will try to extend that record in hopes of making a push for the second round on the Eastern Conference Playoffs. However, the task of getting a win out on the road shouldn’t be impossible for the Raptors that currently hold a very decent 24-17 record. However their playoff games woes are worrying all fans with NBA Playoffs bets on Toronto.
But before the NBA Playoffs series moves down States-side, the Raptors are still favorites to win Game 2 with a line of -7. Toronto will want for DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry to get in the game early and often. Game 1 had a very sloppy beginning from both teams with a very low scoring first quarter. Should this trend continue the under for the total for tonight’s first quarter looks very attractive (48).
Takeaways from game 1 for, sports betting purposes, is that Indiana is a team that will try to outlast the Raptors and is comfortable in the underdog position. They try to keep Toronto’s offense cold, but when it came down to it, they were able to rally and move the ball around. Also, in case we all forgot, Paul George is really good at playing basketball. His 33 points, made him dominate the entire second half, leaving the Raptors completely dumbfounded, and silencing the loud Toronto crowd when they stole this game by 10 points. It should be noted that Indiana covered the spread and kept this game over a double-digit margin.
Game 2 promises to be a real exciting matchup and one that hopefully (for Toronto fans) will see Kyle Lowry come to life and put on a performance that resembles his regular season form. Also, it is to be expected that George and Monta Ellis will both continue to keep a hot hand for Indiana. That said this game is going to be a high scoring affair, going for the over (currently at 194½). Evidence of this should be that in Game 1, after a low scoring game both teams managed to keep scoring keeping this game up, while they didn’t go for the over on Game 1, they will do so on Game 2.
As for a prediction for tonight’s NBA playoffs game, the Raptors will finally snap out of their current post season losing streak and beat the Pacers by 15 points 105-90.