Toronto scored 125 points Sunday, but the path to that number matters before expecting a quick rebound. The Raptors spent much of their loss to the Lakers well behind, then used a late reserve surge to make the finish uncomfortable. Monday’s game against the Clippers offers a chance to turn Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett’s production into something steadier against a team that has lost five straight.
Toronto needs its scoring before the game gets away
Barnes scored 29 points and Barrett added 22 in the 131–125 loss to the Lakers, according to the AP account of the Lakers loss. Those contributions give Toronto two clear starting points for its next offensive effort.
The Raptors trailed by 26 late in the third quarter. Their reserves later scored 11 points in 40 seconds after the Lakers removed their starters, forcing Los Angeles to put key players back in for the final possessions.
That rally showed persistence, but Toronto needs a more competitive first three quarters here. Its last three games produced 129, 114 and 125 points, yet the Raptors won only one of them. Finding points hasn’t consistently meant controlling the game.
Kawhi Leonard won’t play Monday with a knee injury, the same AP report said. Toronto also plays on consecutive nights in the Los Angeles area, moving from the Lakers to the Clippers without a day between games.
The Clippers are searching for more reliable contributions
Rui Hachimura scored 24 points and Kobe Sanders added 16 off the bench in Sunday’s 124–112 loss at Golden State, per the AP report from Golden State. The Clippers still couldn’t stop their losing streak, even with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green resting for the Warriors.
Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg scored 37 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including six threes. Hachimura gave the Clippers a substantial scoring contribution, but it wasn’t enough against that performance.
The Clippers are 1–5 and have failed to cover their last three games. Their latest five scoring totals have ranged from 87 to 117, with Sunday’s 112 coming after 101 at Minnesota and 87 against the Lakers.
They also return to the floor on consecutive nights, coming home after Sunday’s game in San Francisco. Both teams are trying to make corrections immediately after losses rather than coming into this meeting with a clean recent run.
Sharpest Bets Premium
Get our Raptors vs. Clippers picks.
Unlock our model's best bets for this matchup, plus projections, trends, and matchup analysis. Start with a free 7-day trial, then save 20% every month with code PREVIEW20.
Taking care of the ball gives Toronto another route
The DraftKings spread makes Toronto a 4.5-point favorite. It’s 3–3 both outright and against the spread, while the Clippers are 3–3 against the spread despite their 1–5 record. The Raptors have the better record, but two consecutive defeats complicate their case as the favorite.
Our turnover projections put Toronto at about 14 and the Clippers at about 17. If the Raptors can play the cleaner game, they’d have a way to support Barnes and Barrett without needing another burst against reserves late in the fourth quarter.
That comparison also gives the Clippers a practical target. Reducing empty possessions would help them make more of Hachimura’s scoring and keep Toronto from benefiting from avoidable mistakes.
The total asks which version of these offenses appears
The total is 221.5. Toronto’s last three games have gone Over, and both teams’ Sunday losses did too. Barnes, Barrett and Hachimura supplied real scoring, with Toronto’s late reserve burst contributing to that game’s scoring.
Our offensive grades are more restrained: Toronto is a D and the Clippers an F, with both defenses graded B. Those grades temper what the latest high scores suggest about the offenses facing one another. A more controlled game with fewer late scoring swings could look quite different from Sunday’s results.
Toronto has the stronger record and two productive scorers to lead its response. The key is getting that offense working earlier and taking care of the ball, as our turnover comparison suggests Toronto can. The Clippers’ best reply is to take care of their own possessions and give Hachimura’s production more consistent help, rather than relying on one scorer to end the skid.
We break down every matchup
For current odds, model projections and Premium sharp picks ahead of tipoff, open the NBA betting board.
Odds and projections are snapshots and can change. Wagering involves risk.
More matchups to explore
Unlock our Premium picks. Free.
Get our sharpest picks, team grades, and projected score in your inbox.