First to 15 NBA Odds & Picks: Target Raptors vs. Warriors Friday (January 27)

There are so many ways to bet an NBA game, but for those bettors who can't bear to sweat the full 48 minutes, there are other markets that offer more instant satisfaction. One of those markets is the Race to 15 Points. It's as simple as the name suggests: The first team to hit 15 points cashes the bet.

Friday night's slate is a short one with just five games total on the schedule. We'll focus on the late game on the slate, which is a rematch of the 2019 NBA Finals.

Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors

Many have extolled the virtues of the Warriors when they play at home. If you watched their game Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, you see how much that home crowd factors into their style of play.

At Chase Center, the Warriors have the fourth-highest cover rate (70.8%) in the Race to 15 standings this season and they lead the league in first quarter scoring (31.8 points). Contrast that with the Raptors on the road — 50% cover rate away from home (four straight games covering the Race to 15) and the 18th-ranked offense in first quarters (28.0). The other huge contrast here is Pace — Warriors rank first (103.18), Raptors rank 26th (97.98).

The odds suggest the Warriors cover this bet 58.68% of the time, which seems to undervalue their dominance at home with regards to the Race to 15 market. But considering the Raptors have had games where they didn't even score 15 points in a single quarter, I think the Warriors are the clear bet.