The Toronto Raptors (22-15) and Charlotte Hornets (13-23) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Raptors are 1.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread (Raptors -1.5), with the over/under set at 230.5 total points. The Raptors are -125 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while the Hornets are +105 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Raptors vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, January 7.
Raptors vs Hornets Prediction
- Raptors vs Hornets picks: Sandro Mamukelashvili Over 15.5 Points + Rebounds, Moussa Diabaté Over 18.5 Points + Rebounds
My Raptors vs Hornets best bets are on props for Sandro Mamukelashvili and Moussa Diabaté, with the best price currently available at bet365. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Raptors vs Hornets Odds
| Raptors Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -115 | 230.5 -110o / -110u | -125 |
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -105 | 230.5 -110o / -110u | +105 |
Raptors vs Hornets NBA Preview
The Hornets just beat the Thunder on the road.
Even as Action Network’s biggest Hornets optimist (already halfway to the season win total over!), I didn’t have the guts to hit their moneyline on a “just because” longshot Monday night.
Charlotte, like OKC, is 6-6 over its last 12 games. The Hornets are 9-6 with Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball in the starting lineup.
I don’t know how long all three will remain upright, but as it stands, they’re a sneaky play-in contender if healthy. This is a real team.
The Raptors are also very much a real team. Most of December was worrisome, but they’re 5-2 over their last seven and 7-4 over their last 11.
They’re also 15-6 with RJ Barrett this season and just 7-9 without him, and that rough stretch did coincide with his absence.
This is also a major revenge spot, given that Toronto lost to Charlotte twice earlier this season — 118-111 in overtime on November 29 and 111-86 at home one week later.
Another loaded injury report for Charlotte includes the following:
Miller (knee) and Moussa Diabaté (wrist) are probable.
Tidjane Salaün (ankle) is questionable. Ryan Kalkbrenner (ankle), Mason Plumlee (groin) and Grant Williams (ACL recovery) are all out.
Jakob Poeltl (back) is out for Toronto.
Raptors vs Hornets Prediction, Betting Analysis
Two of my favorite plays this season are ones I’m leaning on again today.
First up is Sandro Mamukelashvili over 15.5 points + rebounds. He isn’t an auto-start anymore, even with Jakob Poeltl out.
Collin Murray-Boyles is starting and seeing more minutes, but Mamu has gone over 15.5 PR in 11 of 15 games overall, including five of nine when coming off the bench.
He’s only cleared this once against the Hornets this season, but he also didn’t log 20 minutes in any of those three matchups, with Poeltl healthy and starting.
As for Moussa Diabaté, he hasn’t gone over 18.5 PR in any game against Toronto this season, but he was backing up Ryan Kalkbrenner in all three.
Now, without both Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee, Diabaté is the only true center on the roster, though Tidjane Salaün and two-way PJ Hall provide some frontcourt depth.
Diabaté has recorded at least 20 PR in four of his last five games and, overall, in five of his seven starts this season.
Given the recent uptick in assists, 20.5 PRA is also available and worth a look. He’s never been Nikola Jokic-lite, but he is averaging 2.7 assists per start.
That said, I found 18.5 PR at slightly better value (-124 vs. -130).
Raptors vs Hornets Best Bets
- Sandro Mamukelashvili Over 15.5 Points + Rebounds
- Moussa Diabaté Over 18.5 Points + Rebounds
