The Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers for the second and last time this season. Will the Raptors go 2-0 against LA? Or, will the Lakers pull even with a winning streak-extending victory?

Catch this game live on Saturday, March 11, at 11:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Toronto Raptors (32-35/12-22 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

• PG: Fred VanVleet
• SG: O.G. Anunoby
• SF: Scottie Barnes
• PF: Pascal Siakam
• C: Jakob Poeltl

The Raptors are eyeing to end a testy four-game road trip on a positive note. So far, they have won just once so far in that journey following a 108-100 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. Toronto doesn’t have to travel for this game versus the Lakers as it will just be held in the same location they played the Clippers, so that’s one less to worry about the fatigue level of Toronto, which has seen the total hit the Over in 10 of its last 14 games following a one-day rest. 

The Raptors also defeated the Lakers at home back in December, 126-113, with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet having their way on offense to finish with 25 points each, while OG Anunoby fired 23 points. Another thing about the Raptors is that they seem to love playing the Lakers in Los Angeles, as evidenced by the fact that Toronto is 8-2 SU and 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games in this matchup as the road team, dating back to 2018.

Home: Los Angeles Lakers (32-34/17-15 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

• PG: D’Angelo Russell (hopeful)
• SG: Malik Beasley
• SF: Troy Brown Jr.
• PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
• C: Anthony Davis

The moves they pulled off before the trade deadline are paying dividends for the Lakers. In the 10 games since the trade deadline, the Lakers have won seven of 10 games to push themselves into the Play-in Tournament picture. The Lakers’ defense has also seemingly gotten stouter. On the season, the Lakers are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 113.3 points allowed per 100 possessions but in the last 10 games, teams have managed just 107.6 points per the same amount of possessions – the best dRTG in the NBA during that stretch. 

In their last game, the Lakers held the Ja Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies to only 38.7 FG% and 24.3 3FG% in a 112-103 victory. This is a different Lakers squad that Toronto met last December, with Anthony Davis also suiting up this time around. Davis exploded for 30 points and 22 rebounds in the Grizzlies game. Also keep in mind that Fred VanVleet ripped the refs after the loss to the Clippers, so we’re not exactly sure if they’ll feel loved by the officials Saturday.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Lakers cover (-1.5) the spread.

Over/Under: The total (224.5) hits the Under.