Charlotte Hornets vs Toronto Raptors Betting Pick & Prediction 3/28/25
At 7:30 ET, the 14th place Charlotte Hornets will travel to take on the 11th place Toronto Raptors. The Raptors are currently favored by 6.5 points and have won their last two games.
This Eastern Conference matchup will be played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and can be seen on FDSS.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS VS TORONTO RAPTORS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Charlotte Hornets +6.5
This game will be played at Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 ET on Friday, March 28th.
WHY BET THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 94-89 in favor of the Raptors.
- Our projections have Scottie Barnes finishing with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
- From the field, we have the Raptors finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.5% and knocking down 9 threes.
Do the Hornets Have What it Takes to Win as Road Underdogs?
Charlotte’s season record fell to 18-54 after a 111-104 home loss to the Magic on Tuesday. The Hornets, who were +5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread, losing by 7. The game’s total points of 215 narrowly exceeded the 213.5 O/U line.
Charlotte went on a 12-0 run, turning a 65-58 deficit into a 70-65 lead. However, after tying the game at 83 heading into the 4th quarter, the Hornets were outscored 28-21 in the final period.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 25 points and 9 assists in their loss to the Magic, shooting 69.2% from the field and hitting 3 threes at 75%. Josh Green and Nick Smith Jr. each added 13 points, with Green also connecting on 3 threes at 75% efficiency. Smith hit 3 threes as well, shooting 42.9% from deep.
As a team, the Hornets made 14 threes, shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc, though their overall field goal percentage was just 42%. Ball scored 14 points in the 4th quarter, while Green added 7 points in the 3rd.
Defensively, the Hornets struggled in the 2nd quarter, giving up 34 points, but they tightened up in the 3rd, allowing just 20 points. Overall, they allowed 111 points on 45% shooting from the field.
From beyond the arc, Charlotte held the Magic to 31% shooting, with Orlando making 13 threes. The Hornets also sent the Magic to the line 19 times, where they hit 16 free throws. Charlotte finished with 4 steals and 3 blocks.
Can Toronto Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?
The Raptors improved to 26-47 on the season with a dominant 116-86 road win over the Nets on Wednesday. Toronto, who entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs, not only secured the win but covered the spread with ease.
Toronto set the tone early, jumping out to a 32-18 lead in the 1st quarter. They continued to control the game, outscoring Brooklyn 30-27 in the 2nd and 31-23 in the 3rd. Heading into the 4th with a 93-68 lead, the Raptors held the Nets to 18 points in the final frame. The game’s total of 202 points fell short of the 216-point O/U line.
Orlando Robinson’s 23 points and 12 rebounds led the Raptors to a win over the Nets, as he shot 71.4% from the field and scored 10 points in the 1st quarter and 9 more in the 3rd. Jonathan Mogbo added 16 points, while RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes both contributed 15 points.
Toronto’s shooting was below average, hitting 42.2% from the field and 30.3% from three, making just 10 threes in the game. Ochai Agbaji added 7 of his 12 points in the 3rd quarter, and Ja’Kobe Walter scored 5 of his 11 points in the same period.
The Raptors put on a defensive clinic against the Nets, holding them to just 86 points on Wednesday. Toronto’s defense was particularly strong in the 1st and 4th quarters, where they allowed only 18 points in each. Overall, the Raptors limited Brooklyn to 35% shooting from the field.
Toronto’s defense was also effective beyond the arc, as they held the Nets to just 8 made threes on 19% shooting. The Raptors sent Brooklyn to the free-throw line 19 times, where they made 16. Defensively, Toronto grabbed 46 rebounds, gave up 10 offensive boards, and added 5 steals and 3 blocks.