Clippers Laying 2.5 Points to Raptors in Kawhi’s Return to the North

• Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto; Will receive title ring and then face Raptors
• Raptors had lost three straight before beating the Bulls on Monday
• Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below

It’s a night many Toronto Raptors (16-7, 9-2 home) fans had marked on their calendar since August. They host the Los Angeles Clippers (18-7, 5-6 away) as the undisputed King of the North, Kawhi Leonard, returns as an opponent to the city where he delivered the first NBA title in franchise history.

Tip-off is set for 7pm ET, and will include a pre-game ceremony, as the fans and team will get a chance to honor the 2019 Finals MVP, who will receive his championship ring.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Toronto Raptors Odds

Odds taken December 11th

Once they finally do get down to business, it’s a tough one to call – as evidenced by many sportsbooks holding off betting lines for Clippers vs Raptors odds until this morning, with the Clips opening as 2.5 point favorites.

Raptors Struggle in Returns of Lowry & Ibaka

Give credit to the Raptors, who are playing with championship-level swag that can only come with claiming a ‘chip. While many predicted a post-Kawhi slide, the Raptors ripped off a 15-4 start, while doing a number on some of the best players in the league en route to racking up W’s.

You love to see it.

Chris Boucher comes up with the block, then goes the other way for the dunk. 🤩

(🎥: @Raptors)
pic.twitter.com/9E34oUkc5Q

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 11, 2019

They beat the Lakers and held LeBron to 13 points on 5-for15 from the field. Their first encounter with Kawhi (despite losing): 2-for-11 for 12 points and a whopping 10 turnovers. They deactivated Damian Lillard to the tune of nine points on 2-for-12 shooting, and held 76ers big man Joel Embiid scoreless on an 0-for-11 cold spree.

But their last four games have been a reality check: they lost three straight to legit teams in the Heat and Rockets at home, and the 76ers on the road before barely slipping by the Bulls 93-92 on Monday.

https://twitter.com/Itamar1710/status/1203348142743261185

The science is simple: take the current best clutch and consistent scorer out of your lineup, and you’re going to struggle getting buckets when you really need them. Pascal Siakim has been Kawhi-lite, and talk of him in the MVP picture is not far-fetched, as he’s averaging 24.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while drilling 36.1% from deep, all while playing some of the best defense in the league.

But he’s still learning the role of ‘the man’. In the last four games, he’s averaging 16.8 points and shooting just 20% from three-point range on 20 attempts.

Leonard in Cruise Control Until Postseason

Kawhi sat out Monday’s win over the Pacers, the second night of a back-to-back. Leonard, averaging 25.1 points 7.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 44.7% shooting, has already missed seven games this season for the Clippers, as the team keeps him fresh and healthy for a playoff push.

https://twitter.com/6ixbuzztv/status/1204555600635416576

It’s not that big a concern, as the team has gone 4-3 in his absence. With Paul George back healthy after offseason shoulder surgery, there’s a deep and talented roster that can hold it down.

.@Yg_Trece filled it up in his return to Indy.

📊 36 PTS / 9 REB / 7 3PM / 5 AST pic.twitter.com/CRNmnOTFtQ

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 10, 2019

In 14 appearances this year, George is averaging 23.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while stroking it at a blistering 41% from deep. He’s aided by scoring machine Lou Williams, big man Montrezl Harrell, with Pat Beverley around to harass opponents on defense.

After reeling off seven straight wins, Los Angeles is just 7-5 in their last dozen, unable to string together better than two wins in a row in that stretch. They’ll try to make it three in a row in Toronto.

Stats to Consider

Even with their recent struggles, Toronto is a beast defensively, holding teams to 41.4% shooting from the field, trailing just the Bucks for tops in the NBA. They also have the seventh best three-point FG percentage D (33.9%), and they hold teams to around 105 points a contest, also seventh in the league.

Certified bucket getter.@TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/sVeHqehkAD

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 4, 2019

They’ll be tested by the Clippers, who come in with the sixth highest scoring average in the NBA, pumping in better than 115 points a contest. While they’re outside the top-10 in shooting from the field and beyond the arc, they make up for it by attempting better than 26 free throws a night (third overall), and they are second in offensive rebounding.

While Toronto is 8-3 ATS at home, they are 0-4 ATS in their last four. The Clips are just 4-7 ATS this year, though they have covered in two straight and four of the last five.

What’s the Best Bet?

It’s going to be an emotional and a feel-good night for fans fawning over their former adopted son. But when it gets down to it, this should be a really good game.

George wasn’t around the last time these two teams met in LA, and he gives the Clippers a franchise-level star on the floor at all times. I think the Raps ride the crowd and their quest to prove they’re as lethal without Kawhi as they were with him, so take the book offering Toronto the most points.

The pick: Raptors  +2.5 (-110)