The Toronto Raptors are back in action and host the Houston Rockets at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night.
The pregame narrative: Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes should stuff the stat sheet in the absence of Pascal Siakam. Meanwhile, Alperen Sengun is worth fading against one of the league’s best defences.
VanVleet’s return to form couldn’t have come at a better time for the Raptors. Siakam tweaked his hamstring last Friday and will be sidelined for the coming weeks.
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Toronto’s point guard didn’t look himself in October and was averaging just 13.3 points on 35.3% shooting. VanVleet was battling a back injury and was shut down for three games after an 0-for-11 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The time off seems to have done him wonders. VanVleet recorded back-to-back games with 27-plus points against the Chicago Bulls, including a 30-5-11 performance on Sunday night.
He’s gone over this total in each of his last two games and in four of his eight appearances overall. It’s not asking much for Vanvleet to keep the status quo against an awful Rockets team.
Houston allows 27.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 9.2 assists to point guards each game, according to Swish Analytics. VanVleet’s 37.6 minutes per game are fifth in the NBA, meaning he’ll have plenty of opportunities to stuff the stat sheet.
His usage in the absence of Siakam also is encouraging. VanVleet was taking just 11.3 shots per game with Siakam in the lineup — that number has risen to 20.5 with him sidelined.
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Key stat: VanVleet has averaged 40 P+R+A over his last two games.
Quick picks
Alperen Sengun under 16.5 points (-125): Sengun’s been one of Houston’s few bright spots this season but that’s not going to stop us from fading him. The 2021 first-round pick has been held under this total in five of nine games so far and is playing one of the league’s most rabid defences.
Toronto holds boasts the eighth-best defensive efficiency (107.1) and holds its opponents to the fourth-fewest points per game (106.5).
Sengun played the Raptors twice in his rookie season. He was held scoreless in one of those contests and narrowly passed this mark in the other (17 points).
Scottie Barnes double-double (+225): Barnes has three double-doubles on the season and two of those have come in the last three games.
The 2022 Rookie of the Year recorded his first triple-double against the Dallas Mavericks last Friday after Siakam exited with an injury. He followed that up with a 19-10-4 performance against the Bulls on Sunday.
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This is certainly worth a sprinkle at +225.
AP
Avery Perri writes about sports betting for NorthStar Bets. The
Star’s parent company has a minority interest in NorthStar
Bets.
DISCLAIMER: This content was produced as part of a partnership and therefore it may not meet the standards of impartial or independent journalism.
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