The Toronto Raptors return to Scotiabank Arena with a 3-1 series lead and their first NBA championship could be just 48 minutes away in Game 5 with the Golden State Warriors. The Raps took both games at Oracle Arena and are 3.5-point favorites to end the series, with the total Sportsbook at 212 points.
Warriors vs Raptors Game Center
Standout Stats
- Toronto is 9-3 SU and 8-4 ATS over its 12 home playoff games. More recently, the Raps are 4-1 SU and ATS at Scotiabank Arena with an average winning margin of 9.75.
- Golden State is 7-3 SU and 5-4-1 ATS over its 10 road playoff games. The Dubs are 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS over their last five away games with an average winning margin of 5.75.
- The total has gone UNDER in six of the Raps’ 12 home postseason games with an average combined score of 205.58. Conversely, the total has gone OVER in seven of the Warriors’ 10 road playoff games with an average combined score of 226.7. The totals went OVER and PUSHED in the two games at Scotiabank Arena in this series.
- Toronto is averaging 112.5 points per game in the series, while Golden State is chipping in 104.8 ppg. The Raptors are taking more shots and hitting at a higher percentage both from three-point range and inside the arc.
- The Warriors are committing 16.8 giveaways per game to the Raptors’ 13 turnovers per game. Golden State has done a better job distributing the ball, averaging 28.5 dimes per game, while Toronto is averaging 23.5 assists per game. This could be attributed to the Warriors’ defense that is allowing the Raps to have some open looks and not getting in their face.
- The Raptors have been terrific at the charity stripe, shooting 90.3 percent from the line, while the Warriors are hitting 83.8 percent of their free-throw attempts. Toronto has also had the edge around the rim, averaging 39 points in the paint per game to Golden State’s 35.
- Klay Thompson returned to the lineup for the Warriors after missing Game 3, and he was effective, shooting 60 percent from beyond the arc and tallying 28 points on 42 minutes, but it still wasn’t enough to hold off the Raptors.
My Best Bet for Golden State vs Toronto
Toronto -3.5
Quite simply, and somewhat surprisingly, the Raptors have outplayed the Warriors in nearly every aspect of the game. If Kevin Durant was in the lineup, it might be a different story, but he isn’t and it doesn’t appear that he will suit up for Game 5 either.
I do expect Golden State to really push the pace and fight tooth and nail to force a Game 6 in Oakland, but I just don’t think the Warriors will be able to find much success against this Toronto team that is in a real groove.
