Raptors vs Thunder Prediction, Picks, & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

The Toronto Raptors welcome the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Scotiabank Arena tonight on Sportsnet. 

OKC has the best record in the Western Conference at 16-5 but my Thunder vs Raptors predictions are betting on the home side. 

Here are my best free NBA picks for this December 5 clash with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Raptors vs Thunder prediction

My Raptors pick
+9.5 (-105 at PointsBet Canada)

My analysis

Call it the Air Canada effect if you will, but the Toronto Raptors have always performed significantly better in The Great White North. This year, the Raps are 1-11 with an average scoring margin of -5.4 points per game on the road but have gone 6-4 at the Scotiabank Arena with a margin of -0.1 ppg.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a drop-off in play on the road, boasting a net rating of +12.1 at home with that number dipping to +9.2 ppg in away contests. The road trips up North can be particularly taxing on teams in the U.S. South, especially a Thunder squad that had just gotten home on Monday after a grueling four road games in seven days.  

The Thunder have been winning but they haven't been consistently covering big spreads now that they're a contender. On the other hand, the Raps are flying under the radar and have been very competitive since Scottie Barnes came back from an orbital bone fracture two weeks ago.

The Raps have won four of seven games since Barnes returned to the lineup and they beat the Pacers 122-111 in their previous game on Tuesday with Barnes dropping a career-high 35 points. There's even a chance that breakout sophomore Gradey Dick (18.1 ppg) will be back after a five-game absence and if he suits up, that will be even more firepower for Toronto.

Raptors vs Thunder same-game parlay

Raptors +9.5

Under 227

Scottie Barnes Over 28.5 points + assists

+550 at PointsBet Canada

Toronto has shown massive improvement on the defensive end of the floor over the last month. In their first 11 games of the season, the Raps were last in the NBA in defensive rating (120.0) but they've trimmed that number to 109.9 in their last 11 contests. Meanwhile, the Thunder have the best defensive rating (103.9) in the league.  

Barnes has been filling up the hoop but he's also been Toronto's prime facilitator, racking up 8.2 apg in his last six while scoring 23+ points in his previous three contests. The Thunder are a tough defensive team but they also play at a fast tempo, which will lead to more possessions for Toronto and more opportunities for the ball-dominant Barnes to fill up the stat sheet. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Raptors vs Thunder odds

Raptors vs Thunder live odds

Raptors vs Thunder opening odds

• Spread: Toronto +8.5 | Oklahoma City -8.5
• Moneyline: Toronto +320 | Oklahoma City -400
• Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5

Odds courtesy of PointsBet Canada.

Raptors vs Thunder spread and Over/Under analysis

• Early money has come in on OKC and the Under, shifting the line from -8.5 to -9.5 and dropping the total to 227.
• The Thunder have won five of their last six contests but have gone a middling 3-4-1 against the spread in their last eight games.
• The Raptors began the season going 7-1 O/U but have tightened up on defense and the Over is just 4-10 since.
• The Raptors are 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 7-15 record but have gone 5-6 with Barnes in the lineup.

Raptors vs Thunder trend

The Raptors have covered the first-half spread in 31 of their last 50 games (+10.55 Units / 19% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Thunder.

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