After a busy offseason, it was understandable if you felt a little deja vu watching Kawhi Leonard suit up for the Raptors on opening week. The league's investigation into his Clippers deal hung over him for a year, and the trade to Toronto could not close until it ended. The Raptors took the Cavs to a Game 7 in last year's first round of the playoffs largely on the back of Scottie Barnes. Add Kawhi to that group, and the outcome is probably different, and maybe the Knicks never make the Finals. Sorry New York. On to tonight.
Two 2-0 teams and the books have this priced at close to a pick'em. The new-look Wolves have won their opening games by 25 and 22 points, both on the road, at Miami and at Orlando. A closer look at the numbers tells you they have dominated the glass and shot the ball at an unsustainable clip. Minnesota is plus-36 in rebounding through two games and has made 35 of their 87 attempts from three, good for 40% on just over 40 attempts a night. Anthony Edwards scored 45 at Miami, then shot five-of-23 at Orlando. The Wolves still won by 22.
Toronto has its eyes on a top spot in the East this season. The core of Barnes, Quickley, Barrett and Poeltl is sure to improve with the addition of Kawhi, the man who brought this organization a championship back in 2019. Their style of basketball is much less flashy than the Wolves', and that style travels in the playoffs. But for now, the books are overvaluing a Minnesota team with several new pieces. LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga, Ayo Dosunmu and Anthony Edwards are still in their first week together, and nobody has had to take the big shot late. Sunday may just ask that question. I'll take the hook on the team with cohesion.
Raptors vs Timberwolves prediction: Toronto Raptors +1.5 (-113) available at time of publishing. Playable to +1.
