Raptors Basketball Betting Preview: Toronto at Houston

Toronto Raptors at Houston Rockets (-4.5, O/U 199.5)

Emotions will be running high on both sides – for very different reasons – when the Raptors visit the Houston Rockets Tuesday.

The Rockets organization is in mourning after head coach Kevin McHale’s daughter, Sasha, passed away Saturday at the age of 23. McHale, who has been away from the team since Nov. 10, won’t be on the Rockets bench once again Saturday.

Meanwhile, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry makes his first return to Houston since being traded to Toronto this past summer. Lowry, who played three-plus seasons with the Rockets and was dealt to make room for Jeremy Lin, is averaging 18.3 points and 6.1 assists with the Raps.

Toronto has lost 11 of 14 this season, but the Raptors continue to keep things close. They have led in the fourth quarter of each of their past four losses, including a double-overtime 111-106 loss to the Spurs Sunday.

In Houston’s last outing, the Rockets blasted the visiting Knicks 131-103 Friday. The Rockets are 4-3 at home this season.

Home teams have dominated recent matchups between the teams, going 8-1-1 against the spread in the last 10. The Raptors are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four against Houston, and the under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.

Other NBA betting lines for Tuesday include:
Dallas at Philadelphia (-3.5. O/U 194)
Phoenix (-2.5, O.U 204) at Cleveland
Minnesota at Sacramento (-1.5, O/U 195.5)
Indiana at LA Lakers (-7.5, O/U 1970