Charlotte Hornets @ Toronto Raptors - April 9, 2025

Alright, folks, let’s break down the matchup tonight between the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors. The Hornets are in a rough patch, having dropped four straight games and sporting an abysmal record of 1-9 both straight up and against the spread in their last ten. Their recent home loss to Memphis, where they got absolutely steamrolled, was just another nail in the coffin for a season that’s been forgettable at best.

Now, they’re heading on the road to face a Raptors team that’s had its own struggles but seems to be finding its footing lately. Toronto is coming off a solid win against Brooklyn where they not only secured the victory but also covered as favorites. They’ve shown some resilience with a 13-6 ATS record over their last 19 games, which gives me confidence that they’ll keep that momentum rolling into this matchup.

When we look at offense, Toronto averages about 110.7 points per game with a shooting percentage hovering around 46%. That’s respectable enough to put pressure on a struggling Hornets defense that allows them to score more than they should; they’re giving up around 105.7 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot nearly 43% from the field. It’s clear that if Charlotte can’t clamp down on defense—something they’ve struggled with all season—they’re going to be in for a long night.

Now let’s talk about those defensive stats: The Raptors average just over 45 rebounds per game and come away with about eight steals—those numbers indicate they’re active on defense. Meanwhile, despite having slightly better rebounding numbers than Toronto (45.2 total rebounds), Charlotte isn’t generating nearly as many turnovers (only about seven steals). That could prove crucial because if Toronto starts getting second-chance opportunities or capitalizes on mistakes made by Charlotte, we might see them take full control of this game early.

As for betting lines? Oddsmakers opened with Toronto favored by -7.5 points and I have no qualms laying those points tonight. The Raptors will cover that spread comfortably; I see this being another challenging outing for Charlotte as they continue to spiral downward.

And when it comes to totals? This one opened at 213.5 but I’m expecting it to go OVER tonight based on both teams’ offensive capabilities versus their defensive lapses. With both teams capable of scoring in bursts and Charlotte likely needing to play catch-up ball, I can easily envision this total exceeding what oddsmakers set.

So there you have it: Raptors win convincingly against the Hornets while covering the spread comfortably, and expect plenty of scoring action leading us over that total line! Remember my superstitions though—bet responsibly!