New Orleans Pelicans vs Toronto Raptors Prediction, 12/23/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Toronto Raptors

Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Location: Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, FL

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans (+5)

Tampa Bay Times Forum is the site where and the Toronto Raptors (53-19 last year) will take on the New Orleans Pelicans (30-42 last season) on Wednesday. The line on this matchup has Toronto as 5-point favorites. The O/U is set at 230.

New Orleans heads into this matchup after finishing with a record of 30-42 last season. They averaged 115.8 points per contest (5th in the league) while connecting on 46.5% from the field. The Pelicans shot 37.0% on shots from beyond the arc (982 of 2,656) and 72.9% from the free throw line. As a team, New Orleans grabbed 46.5 boards per game and totaled 1,932 assists last season, which had them ranked 4th in the league in terms of passing. They lost possession by turning the ball over 16.4 times per game and as a team committed 21.2 personal fouls on a nightly basis. Defensively, the Pelicans were able to force 14.5 turnovers on a nightly basis while drawing 21.1 personal fouls. They gave up 36.1% from 3-point land and they were 27th in basketball in points per game from their opponents (117.1). The Pelicans defensively gave up a field goal percentage of 46.5% (3,077 of 6,611) and they surrendered 44.8 boards per contest as a basketball team. They were 18th in the league in allowing assists to the opposition with 1,763 relinquished throughout last season.

The New Orleans Pelicans stepped onto the hardwood against the Orlando Magic and ended up losing by a score of 133-127 in their last contest. New Orleans ended with a 55.2% field goal percentage (48 of 87) and converted 10 of their 34 three-point attempts. At the free throw line, the Pelicans converted 21 of 27 shots for a rate of 77.8%. With regard to pulling down rebounds, they earned 40 with 9 of them being on the offensive end. They also doled out 22 dimes in the matchup as well as earning 6 steals and 4 rejections. In regard to defense, New Orleans allowed the other team to go 57.1% from the field on 48 out of 84. Orlando dished out 25 dimes and 6 steals for this contest. On top of that, the Magic grabbed 33 boards (6 offensive, 27 defensive) and added 2 blocks. Orlando finished the game at 73.3% at the charity stripe by burying 22 of 30 attempts. They also buried 15 out of their 28 attempts from three-point range.

Frank Jackson is someone who came through in this matchup. He notched 31 points on 12 of 24 shooting. He was on the court for 36:21 and snagged 2 boards. Jackson finished the game at 50.0% from the floor and dished out 5 dimes. An additional guy that saw a lot of action in the matchup for the Pelicans was Josh Hart. He totaled 14 boards and totaled 6 dimes. He ended up going 50.0% from the field for this contest by shooting 7-of-14 (23 points). When the final whistle was blown, Hart was on the court for 35:57.

Toronto had a mark of 53-19 last year. Toronto earned 8,118 points over the course of last year (112.8 per game) and they grabbed 45.4 rebounds per contest. As an offense, the Raptors hit 45.8% from the field, which ranked 20th in the league. The Raptors committed 21.7 fouls every game and they connected on 79.6% from the charity stripe. Their rate of dishing out assists was at 25.2 times per contest (11th in the NBA) and they lost possession via turnover 14.8 times per contest. The Raptors were ranked 1st in the league in PPG given up with 106.5. They surrendered 25.6 dimes and 46.1 rebounds per game, which had them ranked 26th and 24th in the league. The Toronto defense allowed 33.7% on shots from beyond the perimeter (943 of 2,798) and their opposition knocked down 76.9% of their shots from the charity stripe. They forced their opponents into 16.8 turnovers on a nightly basis and allowed teams to shoot 42.8% from the floor (2nd in the league).

When they last stepped on the hardwood, the Toronto Raptors took a defeat with a final score of 92-87 against the Boston Celtics. The Raptors recorded 37 defensive rebounds and 7 offensive boards totaling 44 in the game. They blocked 6 shots while getting 2 steals for the contest. The Celtics were called for 16 fouls for the contest which took the Raptors to the charity stripe for 19 tries. They were able to make 17 of them for a percentage of 89.5%. In reference to shooting from downtown, Toronto buried 8 out of their 28 tries (28.6%). In all, the Raptors ended up shooting 31 for 75 from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 41.3%. The Raptors permitted the Celtics to knock down 35 of 86 attempts from the floor which had them at 40.7% for the game. They shot 23.7% from three-point range by going 9 out of 38 and finished the contest at 13 of 23 from the charity stripe (56.5%). In reference to team rebounding, Toronto allowed Boston to snag 44 overall (10 on the offensive glass).

Fred VanVleet was pivotal for the Raptors for this contest. He knocked down 8 out of 20 in this matchup giving him a field goal percentage of 40.0%, which got him 20 points. VanVleet snagged 3 boards in his 44:46 of playing time and accumulated 6 assists for the contest. An additional guy that ended up playing a role for Toronto was Pascal Siakam. He finished with 13 points in his 41:47 on the hardwood by way of 5 of 12 shooting in this matchup. Siakam wrapped this one up going 41.7% from the field as well as contributing 3 assists and 11 boards.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Toronto (-5) and under 230 points

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here