The Hornets are on the verge of losing back-to-back road games against the Raptors. This is also the last of their four-straight road games before another back-to-back against the Celtics at home. With a poor record of only a win in their previous five games, the Raptors will likely present another tall order here. Meanwhile, the hosts looked shaky recently but eventually recovered with two-straight wins. This is their chance to pick up the pace after going through rough patches in the past few weeks.

Nitrobetting shares the latest news, NBA odds, and special features throughout the 2022-23 NBA season. Let’s get a closer look at the upcoming Hornets vs. Raptors face-off in this preview.

Hornets vs. Raptors Game Information

Great night at the office #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/RMLy0nJtk2

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 11, 2023

• When: Thursday, January 12, 2023, 7:30 PM ET
• Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
• TV: SN, BSSE-CHA
• Radio: 92.7 FM WFNZ (Hornets) // TSN 1050 (Raptors)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Hornets (+7.5) // Raptors (-7.5)

READ MORE: Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers 2023 NBA Odds and Preview – January 12th

Why Bet on the Charlotte Hornets?

The Hornets might not have the most intimidating numbers in the league, but when in sync, this squad can deal serious damage. However, starting forward Gordon Hayward is out of the lineup after pulling his hamstring last week. The 32-year-old is a common sight in the injury list, but Jalen McDaniels is there to cover his position come Thursday night.

The offense statistics of Charlotte feature 112.1 points per game on 44.8% shooting. They hit 51.7% of their two-point attempts and a seemingly underwhelming 32.7% three-point percentage. Steve Clifford’s team attacks the basket a lot and averages over 54 points in the paint per game. LaMelo Ball maintains the top scorer title on the team as he scores over 23 points per game. Despite playing only 18 games due to injury, it looks like the guard starts to gain traction and expected to deliver more consistent numbers.

Defensively, the Hornets limit opponents to 118.5 points per game on 48.0% opponent shooting. They are one of the better rebounding teams in the league at the moment and collect 54.1 total boards per game. Mason Plumlee is heavily responsible for helping his team grab offensive and defensive rebounds as the 32-year-old big man records nearly 10 boards per contest in 42 appearances.

Why Bet on the Toronto Raptors?

The Raptors have a stacked lineup as they protect their grounds against the Hornets once again. Toronto’s starting five is healthy, with leading scorer Pascal Siakam expected to carry most of the attacking load. But, knowing his two-way nature, it’s likely we see him perform on both ends. The forward tops not just the Raptors’ scoring sheet at 25.77 points per game, but he also leads the team in rebounds (8.29 RPG) and assists (6.52 APG).

As a team, the Raptors perform harder on the defensive side of the court. They limit teams to 111.4 points per game on 48.7% shooting. They hold competitors to 57.2% from short and mid-range and protect the arc to limit opponents to 36.6% shooting. As for collecting rebounds, the hosts average 50.6 boards per game.

On offense, Toronto averages 111.7 points per game on 44.8% shooting. These are by no means overwhelming when compared to the Hornets, but they do command more consistent figures as of recently. The Raptors hit 51.5% of their two-point shots and 33% from deep. They do significantly better from the line and make nearly 80% of their free throws.

Hornets vs. Raptors Betting Trends

• The Hornets are 3-5 in the last eight road games (3-5 ATS).
• The Hornets are 2-3 in the last five games against the Raptors (2-3 ATS).
• The totals went over in two of the Hornets’ last four road contests.
• The Raptors are 3-2 in the last five games at Scotiabank Arena ()
• The Raptors are 2-3 in the last five games (2-3 ATS).
• The totals went under in two of the Raptors’ last four outings.

Hornets vs. Raptors Expert Betting Prediction

The Hornets are going to have their hands full in this one. With a sizable advantage on paper, the Raptors come in as favorites to win. But, covering the spread shouldn’t be much of an issue for the visitors if they can keep the pace up until the second half. A win is not out of the question as well. However, if the Raptors gain traction early on and their healthier lineup dominates the offensive side of things, this could be a steep uphill battle for the Hornets. Ultimately, we look forward to a better performance from the Hornets before their next two meetings late into the season.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2022-23 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online BTC sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.