New Orleans Pelicans (30-29, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (28-31, 10th in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Raptors -4; over/under is 226
BOTTOM LINE: Pascal Siakam and the Toronto Raptors host CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans in a non-conference matchup.
The Raptors have gone 18-13 in home games. Toronto ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 52.2 points per game in the paint led by Siakam averaging 12.1.
The Pelicans are 10-19 on the road. New Orleans ranks sixth in the Western Conference scoring 55.1 points per game in the paint led by Zion Williamson averaging 19.1.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pelicans won 126-108 in the last meeting on Dec. 1. Williamson led the Pelicans with 33 points, and Gary Trent Jr. led the Raptors with 35 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Siakam is scoring 25.2 points per game with 7.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Raptors. Fred VanVleet is averaging 20.2 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 42.1% over the last 10 games for Toronto.
McCollum averages 2.8 made 3-pointers per game for the Pelicans, scoring 21.1 points while shooting 38.4% from beyond the arc. Jonas Valanciunas is shooting 60.8% and averaging 15.5 points over the last 10 games for New Orleans.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 6-4, averaging 116.7 points, 44.3 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.
Pelicans: 4-6, averaging 112.7 points, 42.6 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.6 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Otto Porter Jr.: out for season (foot), Gary Trent Jr.: day to day (calf), OG Anunoby: out (wrist).
Pelicans: E.J. Liddell: out (knee), Larry Nance Jr.: day to day (groin), Zion Williamson: out (hamstring), Dyson Daniels: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
