The Brooklyn Nets visit the struggling Toronto Raptors to kick off the new year.
The pregame narrative: I have no faith in Toronto, so I’m backing the Nets to cover an alternate spread. I also like the under and a Cameron Johnson prop pick in this +400 SGP.
Check out my Nets vs. Raptors same-game parlay predictions for Jan. 1.
Nets vs. Raptors predictions
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Parlay: Nets +3.5 + Under 224.5 points + Johnson over 22.5 points (+400)
Nets +3.5 (-143): The Raptors have lost 11 games in a row and there’s no way I can get behind them right now.
On the season, Toronto has failed to cover this spread in 28 of 33 games. But the active 11-game losing streak has been particularly dark.
The horrid run of play started with a seven-point loss to the Nets and closed out with a 54-point beatdown by the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
With no rest and important players like RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick on the injury report (both listed as questionable), it’s hard to see the Raptors winning by more than a few points, if at all.
Brooklyn made its second trade of the season recently, sending Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell and draft capital.
While Russell fit in terribly with the Lakers, the Nets are in desperate need of another ball handler after trading away Dennis Schroder.
Brooklyn’s new point guard is expected to make his first appearance for the team on Wednesday.
Do I think Brooklyn is a playoff team now? No. Do I think it’s good enough to beat Toronto for the second time in a few weeks? Yes.
SGP legs
Under 224.5 points (-163): A big part of the Raptors’ struggles is how awful their offence has been.
Toronto has averaged 95.6 points per game on its current 11-game losing streak. For context, the Orlando Magic currently score the fewest PPG (105.9) in the NBA.
The offence seriously missed Barrett and Dick yesterday as it scored 71 points against the Celtics.
You won’t be surprised to hear that that’s the fewest by a team in a game this season.
Brooklyn’s offence ranks the worst of the two teams this season, though, scoring the fifth-fewest points per game (107.8).
As mentioned before, I do expect Russell to help the offensive struggles but this is still a total I feel good about taking the under on.
Johnson over 19.5 points (-120): In that Dec. 19 meeting between Toronto and Brooklyn, Johnson scored 33 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field.
He went to the free throw line 12 times, which was a massive aid to that final stat line.
Jakob Poeltl is in for this game, however, meaning I don’t think Johnson will get fouled as much near the rim. But his potential as a scorer is still there in this matchup.
According to Fantasy Pros, the Raptors allow the fourth-most points per game to small forwards (23.5).
Having less playmaking responsibilities after the trade will help Johnson focus on scoring and that’s what he’s best at.
The forward shoots 48.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range.
Picks made at 10:48 a.m. ET 01/01/2025.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.