Published Dec 3, 9:27pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Dec 3, 9:27pm ET
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One of the games on Thursday's NBA slate features the Toronto Raptors hosting the Los Angeles Lakers. Who has the edge in our Raptors vs Lakers pick?
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| Toronto Raptors | +3.5 (-122) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -3.5 (-108) |
After suffering back-to-back losses to the Hornets and Knicks, Toronto snapped its two-game skid with a 121-118 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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The Raptors held a 15-point advantage after three quarters and led 117-113 late in the final frame before Portland's Shaedon Sharpe hit two free throws, trimming the deficit to two points.
But a dunk and a pair of foul shots from Brandon Ingram helped Toronto hold on for the win. The team's top performer was Scottie Barnes, who finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists on 10-for-18 shooting overall and 3-for-7 from distance.
Following an 8-4 start, the Lakers reeled off seven straight wins before coming up short against the Phoenix Suns 125-108 on Monday night.
The teams battled to a 31-31 tie after the opening 12 minutes. However, Phoenix seized control of the game for good from that point, outscoring the Lakers by a 65-46 margin over the middle two quarters en route to what proved to be an easy double-digit victory.
Luka Doncic paced the offense with a team-high 38 points, along with 11 rebounds and five assists, connecting on 15 of his 26 shot attempts.
Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
Toronto has dropped the previous five meetings in this series and seven of the last 10. Taking that trend into consideration, the edge goes to the Lakers in this East vs West matchup.
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Pick
Los Angeles Lakers
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