Raptors vs Hornets

Toronto’s nine-game heater, built on a top-10 offense and top-10 defense, makes the Raptors the justified moneyline side at -350 against a Charlotte group that just snapped a seven-game skid and still sits at 4-14. With RJ Barrett sidelined for at least a week by a knee sprain, Toronto leans even harder on Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, who combined for 43 points and multiple game-saving blocks in the tight 110-108 win over these Hornets on November 17. Charlotte finally has LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller on the floor together again, but the Hornets are coming off a high-usage, up-and-down win over Chicago and remain one of the league’s leakier defenses, while Toronto has consistently cashed as a favorite and Charlotte has struggled to convert as an underdog. Factoring in Toronto’s rest advantage, recent head-to-head edge and superior two-way profile, I’m backing the Raptors moneyline with an A- grade for win probability but only moderate value at this price; Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 29/11/2025 09:38am

Charlotte’s porous defense and uptempo style, paired with Toronto’s efficient scoring core, push me toward the Over 230 at -110 despite the Raptors’ relatively strong defensive metrics. The Hornets are giving up well over 120 points per night while scoring in the mid-110s themselves, and their last outing was a 123-116 shootout, while Raptors and Hornets games together are averaging mid-230s in total points on the season, suggesting this number sits a bit low. Even though the earlier 110-108 meeting between these teams landed under this total, that game featured Barrett’s late heroics and colder Hornets shooting from deep, whereas Miller’s return, LaMelo’s full minutes load and Kon Knueppel’s three-point volume now give Charlotte more spacing to challenge a Raptors defense that has occasionally bled threes on the road. With Toronto still capable of piling up points behind Ingram, Barnes and Immanuel Quickley and Charlotte’s defensive issues unlikely to vanish on the second night of a back-to-back, I grade Over 230 as a B: a reasonable edge with some volatility given Toronto’s defensive ceiling; Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 29/11/2025 09:38am

Brandon Ingram’s late-game shot-making, paired with Charlotte’s tendency to hang around at home, has me taking the Hornets +8.5 (-110) rather than laying the points with Toronto. The Raptors are riding a nine-game win streak, but their earlier 110-108 victory over Charlotte came by just two points at home, and now they’re without Barrett’s on-ball scoring while shifting more creation onto Ingram and Barnes. Charlotte, meanwhile, has been more competitive against the number than in the standings, playing to around .500 ATS at home, and now has Ball, Bridges, Knueppel and Miller all available to pressure the Raptors’ perimeter defense, even if depth pieces like Josh Green and Grant Williams remain out and Pat Connaughton is banged up. With Toronto still the likelier outright winner but Charlotte’s improved offensive firepower, recent close head-to-head and home-court bump making a double-digit loss less likely, I grade Hornets +8.5 as a B+ play for value, acknowledging the risk of Toronto’s current form steamrolling a tired defense; Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 29/11/2025 09:38am