The Toronto Raptors will once again be undermanned in their home matchup with the Orlando Magic on Friday, April 16, though they are still favored to come away with a victory. A number of key contributors will be out for a variety of different reasons including rest or injuries, while the Raptors will return an important member to the lineup. The game is set to get started at 7:30 p.m. ET from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Toronto point guard Fred VanVleet is likely to be back on the floor, but he has not appeared in a game since a victory over the Golden State Warriors on April 2. He had missed six games with a hip flexor injury and sat out of the Raptors’ last game serving a one-game suspension for leaving the bench during a scuffle with the Los Angeles Lakers on April 6.
While VanVleet is back, several of his high-profile Raptors teammates will not be out on the floor with him. Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry and OG Anunoby will all sit out Friday night’s game to rest. Meanwhile, Jalen Harris remains out with a hip pointer, and Gary Trent Jr. is doubtful with an ankle injury. Additionally, DeAndre’ Bembry is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.
Toronto had Thursday off, but the Raptors played on back-to-back days on Tuesday and Wednesday. Toronto is coming off a 117-112 home win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Raptors had a fairly balanced scoring effort with eight players scoring at least nine points. Anunoby scored a team-high 22 points, knocking down four 3-pointers in the win. Siakam had a double-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, as did Chris Boucher with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Toronto had been on a two-game losing streak and lost four of its last five games heading into Wednesday night. The Raptors improved their record to 22-34, which is the 11th best record in the Eastern Conference.
This is far from the first time the Raptors have gone into a game without a full complement of players. The franchise went through a difficult COVID-19 outbreak that started before the All-Star break and leaked into the beginning of the second half of the season, which appears to have made a big impact on the team’s success.
Orlando has really struggled this season, and the Magic just had a six-game losing streak snapped on Wednesday with a 115-106 road win over the Chicago Bulls. James Ennis III was Orlando’s top scorer with 22 points, knocking down 5 of 6 shots from the three-point line. Wendell Carter Jr. scored 19 points and added 12 rebounds in the win as the Magic improved to 18-37 for the second worst record in the conference ahead of only the Detroit Pistons.
On the Magic’s injury report, guard Michael Carter-Williams is out with a left ankle sprain, while center Mo Bamba is questionable to return to the floor with a hip injury.
Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors Betting Info
Below is a look at tonight’s Raptors odds for the major gambling categories including the point spread, point total and moneyline. With the number of players out for the Raptors, oddsmakers likely had a tough task in setting these lines. All odds are via a popular United States sportsbook.
Point Spread
Despite all the inactive players on the Toronto roster, the Raptors are favored by 2.5 points with -112 odds with the Magic at -109 to cover the +2.5.
Point Total
The over/under for this game is set at 212.5 with -112 odds toward the over and -109 for the under.
Moneyline
As the favorites, the Raptors are getting -136 odds to come away with a victory with the Magic at +114 to pull off the slight upset on the road.
