NBA Betting: Lakers Seek Answers Up North

The Toronto Raptors appear to have an easy win in hand Thursday night as they welcome the struggling Los Angeles Lakers to the north.

The Raptors are coming off a surprising 126-101 upset loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers as an 8.5-point favorite at Bovada Sportsbook. Toronto has been a nightmare for bettors lately at 3-9 against the spread in its last 12 games. The Raptors were 8-4 straight up during that span. At home Toronto hasn’t been any kinder to bettors’ bankrolls at 5-2 SU and 1-6 ATS in its last seven.

The Lakers finally posted a win last time out, getting past the Chicago Bulls 123-107 as a 2-point favorite. That win snapped a five-game losing streak SU and an eight-game losing streak ATS. In their last 12 games, the Lakers are 2-10 ATS, and on the road they’re 1-5 SU and ATS in their last six.

The Raptors and Lakers met up in Los Angeles in November, when Toronto won 123-107 as a 1.5-point underdog. Toronto has won eight straight against the Lakers at 7-1 ATS.

UNDER may be the play in Pacers-Thunder

West heads East in another Thursday night matchup when the Indiana Pacers host the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder may be breaking out of their recent slump after defeating the Utah Jazz 98-89 as a 3.5-point underdog last time out to improve to 2-1 SU and ATS in their last three. The Thunder are still 3-6 SU and 2-7 ATS in their last nine and on the road they’re 2-5 SU and ATS in their last seven.

The Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 103-98 last time out but failed to cover the 11-point spread. That continued a rough stretch for the Pacers when it comes to bettors, as they are 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS in their last eight.

In the last five matchups between the Thunder and Pacers, the Thunder are 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS. Totals bettors may want to get on the UNDER in this one. The Thunder are 7-2 UNDER in their last nine, Indiana has posted four straight UNDERs, and the last three matchups between the Pacers and Thunder have all gone UNDER the posted total.

Nuggets have been gold at home

Finally, in what looks to be another blowout on the Thursday slate, the Dallas Mavericks visit the Denver Nuggets.

Dallas has lost six straight at 2-4 ATS, and the Mavericks have also dropped six straight on the road while going 1-5 ATS.

Denver is a disappointing 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS in its last six, but at home the Nuggets are 10-2 SU and 9-3 ATS in their last 12.

Denver is 2-0 SU and ATS vs the Mavericks so far this season. In their last nine against Dallas, the Nuggets are 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS, and they’ve won five straight at home against the Mavs while going 3-2 ATS.