The Charlotte Hornets (6-16) and Toronto Raptors (15-8) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Raptors are 7.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread (Raptors -7.5), with the over/under set at 229.5 total points. Toronto is a -310 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Charlotte is +250 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hornets vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks for Friday, December 5.
My Hornets vs Raptors Prediction
- Hornets vs Raptors pick: Hornets +7.5 (-112)
My Raptors vs Hornets best bet is on the Hornets to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hornets vs Raptors Odds
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -112 | 229.5 -112o / -108u | +250 |
| Raptors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -108 | 229.5 -112o / -108u | -310 |
Hornets vs Raptors NBA Preview
Here I am on Hornets Island tonight, taking the spread against the Raptors.
They have a big rest advantage in this one.
The Hornets were off on Thursday night, while the Raptors will be on the second night of a back-to-back and their third game in four nights.
Now, to be fair and transparent, Charlotte has been in these positions before, and they have done nothing with it.
The Hornets have not covered a spread when they've had a rest advantage this season.
However, they still theoretically have an upper hand, especially in this spot.
Also, consider the Raptors just had one of the highest-priced tickets of the season, with LeBron James and the Lakers in the house, and then have to follow that up the very next night against the Hornets.
They're going to have to give tickets away to get people into this arena. This is the sleepiest of sleepy spots.
The problem for Charlotte is its players' injury status.
LaMelo Ball is listed as probable. There's a chance that Brandon Miller plays. Ryan Kalkbrenner and Tre Mann are questionable.
Meanwhile, the Raptors are sliding down the hill. They are 0-5 against the spread in their last five games.
I was on the Raptors against the Lakers, and I bet the Hornets +8 last night while Toronto had a two-point lead with about two minutes left.
After I lost that bet, I also liked this one slightly less.
Now, that's not enough of a reason for me to get off this wager entirely.
I just don't feel as good about it. I would love to have the fat and happy Raptors on the second night of a back-to-back in a sleepy spot.
I still think all the other factors are enough to be on the Hornets at a good number, though I certainly wish, for multiple reasons, that Toronto had won on Thursday night.
Still, the Raptors are the worst team in the NBA after a loss, 1-6 ATS, and I only make this a 6-point line.
Hornets vs Raptors Prediction, Betting Analysis
I'm going back to the Hornets again on Friday night.
They need LaMelo and Brandon Miller to play. I think that's probably going to be pretty meaningful here, and it hasn't happened often.
Charlotte is 3-3 straight up and 4-2 against the spread with both of those guys this season.
So, they have played together in only six games. They are 3-2 as underdogs in that spot.
So to play this, you have to look at an injury report.
If Brandon Miller plays, this is not going to close this high.
It was 8.5 at the open, so it looks like it's moving towards Hornets, which is a little bit interesting.
Of course, I don't trust Charlotte enough to bet them on the moneyline, so I'm going with the spread.
Pick: Hornets +7.5 (-112, DraftKings)
