Over the weekend, we got an entertaining matchup between the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors. Now, we get to run it back on Monday. Neither team is going anywhere this season, but Saturday’s game showed that both are still competing hard. Using those data points along with recent trends, we can build a solid betting card.
Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors Best Bet
The Wizards barely hung on Saturday night, escaping with a win after a Jamal Shead’s buzzer-beater was overturned on replay. That gave Washington its 13th victory of the season—and its third in four games this month.
JAMAL SHEAD CENTIMETERS AWAY FROM CALLING GAME 😱
The bucket was ruled no good. pic.twitter.com/TEIw2EjmX5
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 9, 2025
I’m not buying this recent surge. If I had to pick a side, I’d lean toward the Raptors covering, but that’s not the angle I’m playing. Instead, I expect the favorite to control the tempo, putting us in a great spot to cash an under bet tonight in Toronto.
Pace Rankings
- Wizards: 4th
- Raptors: 15th
Washington relies on volume over efficiency, taking a “shoot your shot” approach to offense. If Toronto can limit those opportunities, a lower-scoring game is well within reach.
Saturday’s game finished with 235 total points, but that was about as favorable as it could get for over bettors.
Why I’m Betting the Under
First, it was a tight contest, forcing both teams to stay engaged for the full 48 minutes. If the Raptors play from ahead tonight as expected, they’ll likely slow things down even more in the second half—that alone could shave off a few points.
But that’s not all.
On Saturday, these two offensively challenged teams combined for:
- 23 made three-pointers
- 44 free throws
- 43 transition points (74.2% of turnovers were live-ball)
I’m comfortable betting the under on all of those numbers tonight. That 235 total feels like a red herring.
Still not convinced?
Toronto shot 50% from the field—despite lacking depth. I don’t love the odds of that happening again. And while Jordan Poole had a rare strong outing (7-of-12 from three), his teammates shot just 23.1% from deep. If that trend holds, we could cash this under bet with room to spare.
The Raptors also have injury concerns. Chris Boucher and Immanuel Quickley both missed Saturday’s game and remain questionable. If they sit again, Toronto’s offensive firepower takes another hit.
I’m more confident in fading Washington, but overall, I have a hard time seeing this game play out the same way it did over the weekend.
Pick: Under 232.5 points (-110, FanDuel)
Pick: Wizards under 112.5 points (-108, DraftKings)