Looking For Third, Raptors Visit Knicks

DeMar DeRozan is one of the Raptors that may be rested in Wednesday’s finale against the Knicks.

Looking to secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Toronto Raptors visit the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Tip-off at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.

Toronto (48-33, 22-18 road) currently sits tied with the Chicago Bulls (48-33) for third place in the Eastern Conference, a scenario that suits the Atlantic Division champions. But with one final game on the docket, that advantage could quickly slip away.

The Raptors have already accumulated a franchise-best 48 wins – topping the 47 wins secured in the 2000-01 and 2006-07 seasons – but one more win in this historic season would prove to be the icing on the cake. The cherry would be success come playoff time.

In five previous trips to the postseason, Toronto has advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs just once, back in the aforementioned 2000-01 season. The side’s ability to do so again this year could depend on which team it meets in the first round.

A third-place finish would set up a matchup with the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Bobcats or Washington Wizards depending how the rest of Wednesday’s final slate of action plays out. A fourth-place finish would set up a matchup against the Nets or Wizards.

All three potential opponents serve up an assortment of pros and cons for the Raptors, as covered by the Toronto Star this week. In truth, head coach Dwane Casey – who believes his team needs to play better than it has of late – probably doesn’t care which team shows up at Air Canada Centre this weekend.

The Raptors are 34-18 since January 1 and have taken nine wins from their last 11. This is a team that has gotten used to winning. But then again, the Bobcats are 3-0 against the Raptors this season, which might be reason enough to ‘tumble’ to a fourth-place finish.

The Bulls themselves won’t get an easy out in their regular season finale against Charlotte (42-39) on Wednesday (7:00 p.m. ET).

New York (36-45, 18-22 home) recorded a sixth win in eight games Tuesday, defeating its cross-river rival in Brooklyn. Since being eliminated from playoff contention, the Knicks are unbeaten and will be looking to spoil the Raptors’ final game of the season.

A MRI earlier this week showed that Carmelo Anthony has been playing with a torn labrum, an injury that obviously hindered him down the stretch and might prove costly this summer.

Anthony missed Tuesday night’s 109-98 victory over the Nets and will be absent for Wednesday’s finale against the Raptors.

The Raptors have gone 2-1 against the Knicks this season.

The two sides met at Air Canada Centre in Toronto last Friday, with the Knicks taking a 108-100 victory back across the border.

Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks odds for 04/16/2014

With the Knicks playing without Anthony and the Raptors looking like a threat to rest starters, Vegas had yet to release lines for this game. Bettors themselves might be wise to contemplating skipping what could be 48 minutes of garbage time.

But if you are looking for some tips, we’ve got them for you. Once lines are available, you’ll find them at the link above.

Toronto (47-32-2 ATS) has fared much better against the spread this season than New York (37-44-0 ATS) but recent form makes the Knicks the favorable bet.

New York has covered in three straight and six of the last eight, while Toronto is 1-3-1 ATS over its last five. Both streaks include the Knicks covering the spread in their matchup with the Raptors last week.

Prior to that game, the Raptors had covered the spread in both meetings between the sides this season.

Both New York (46-35-0) and Toronto (45-36-0) have favored the over this season, including in their head-to-head series, where the total has paid out twice this season.

The over has paid out in Toronto’s last seven games and New York’s last four.

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