Raptors vs Pelicans Prediction, picks and odds for tonight’s NBA game

It was another heartbreaking loss for the Toronto Raptors last time out, but there’s no doubt this rebuilding squad has some bite.

Tonight, the Raps take on a New Orleans Pelicans team with a matching 4-14 record. My Raptors vs. Pelicans predictions look at why the Raps have a chance as slight underdogs against an injury-ravaged Pels team.

Here are my NBA picks for this game on Wednesday, November 27 with a tip at 8 PM ET at Smoothie King Center on TSN.

Raptors vs Pelicans Prediction

My Raptors pick
Raptors Moneyline (+125 at PointsBet Canada)

My analysis

On Sunday, the Toronto Raptors were stunned by Jaden Ivey when the Detroit Pistons guard hit a runner at the buzzer to drop them 102-100.

Despite the ugly record, there have been many positives for this Raptors team. The young core buys into head coach Darko Rajakovic’s system, which is based on high tempo and ball movement.

While the Raptors still want to improve their efficiency, they make up for it with quantity. Toronto takes the fifth-most field-goal attempts per game, while ranking eighth in assist rate.

Now, because the Raps are still not a great shooting team, they are experiencing a wide variety of results when it comes to scoring.

However, I like their chances to be productive against the New Orleans Pelicans, who have been bitten by one of the biggest injury bugs of all time.

Zion Williamson, Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado are all out, and while the Pelicans recently got CJ McCollum back, Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy III are now both questionable to play.

The injuries mean the Pels have had absolutely no continuity and it has cost them on both ends of the floor. New Orleans is 27th in offensive rating and 28th in defensive rating, resulting in just one win in their last 12 games.

So that sets things up nicely for the Raptors tonight. Their improved offense and overall hustle has made them a good bet all season, going 12-6 against the spread. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have had a lot of trouble navigating those injuries and are 6-12 ATS.

All things considered, with a spread this low, I like the value with the Raptors to pick up a win in the Big Easy tonight.

Raptors vs Pelicans parlay in same game

Raptors money line

Davion Mitchell over 4.5 assists

Ochai Agbaji over 8.5 points

While the likes of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl are key to this Raptors team, they also get solid contributions up and down the roster.

Backup point guard Davion Mitchell has done well as a playmaker in Immanuel Quickley’s absence. Mitchell is averaging 5.7 assists per game this season and will face a Pelicans team that allows the sixth most assists per game this season. Mitchell’s assist cap is set at 4.5, and he has topped that number in 12 of his last 16 games.

Meanwhile, Ochai Agbaji has added some offense. The 24-year-old is averaging 11.6 points per game this season, which includes shooting an impressive 42.3% from 3-point range. Now he’s in a bit of a slump, but that just gives us a good number on his point total of 8.5. I like him to get a little more run with Gradey Dick out again, snap out of his funk and beat Over tonight.

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