Thunder Look to Extend Winning Streak Against Struggling Raptors on Friday
The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Toronto Raptors on Friday at the Paycom Center in a matchup that sees the league’s top team take on one of the Eastern Conference’s most underperforming squads.
Oklahoma City, with an impressive 40-9 record, sits comfortably at the top of the Western Conference standings and has been dominant at home with a 23-3 mark. Led by MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder are riding a three-game winning streak, most recently crushing the Phoenix Suns 140-109.
On the other side, Toronto has been struggling, currently sitting at 16-35 overall, and 4-19 on the road. The Raptors are coming off two straight losses, including a disappointing 138-107 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies. Toronto will also be without key players Jakob Poeltl (hip) and RJ Barrett (concussion) for the matchup.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. Oklahoma City enters the game as a massive 19-point favorite, with the over/under set at 230 points. Before making any betting decisions, it’s important to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven SportsLine computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, has a strong track record of success, having returned over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated picks over the last six-plus seasons. As the 2024-25 season reaches Week 16, the model is on a hot streak, boasting a 144-102 record on top-rated NBA picks, returning over $4,000 in profit.
Here’s a quick look at the betting lines for the game:
- Thunder vs. Raptors spread: Thunder -19
- Over/under: 230 points
- Money line: Thunder: -2500, Raptors: +1160
- Thunder vs. Raptors picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Thunder Can Cover Oklahoma City has been nearly unstoppable this season and enters Friday’s game with a six-game lead in the race for the top seed in the Western Conference. Their recent win over Phoenix was another dominating performance, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going off for 50 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the heavy favorite to win the MVP, is averaging 32.8 points, 6.0 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game, leading the Thunder’s offensive charge. With the team’s tendency to blow out opponents—having won 15 games by 19 points or more—Oklahoma City is well-positioned to cover the spread.
Why the Raptors Can Cover The Raptors have had a rough stretch, with their 138-107 loss to the Grizzlies continuing a recent trend of underperformance. Currently sitting outside the Eastern Conference playoff race, Toronto is 5.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls for the final play-in spot.
Despite their struggles, the Raptors have done well against the spread, posting a 28-21-2 record this season. While they face an uphill battle in this matchup, Toronto’s ability to cover the spread could still be in play, especially as they look to bounce back from their recent setbacks.
How to Make Thunder vs. Raptors Picks The SportsLine model has simulated the game 10,000 times and offers a pick that hits in nearly 70% of simulations. The model is leaning under on the point total and has a strong point-spread pick. To get the full breakdown and see which side the model is backing, visit SportsLine now.
With both teams headed in different directions, Oklahoma City looks poised to extend its winning streak, but can the Raptors keep it close enough to cover? Visit SportsLine now for the expert predictions and betting advice.
