Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors – NBA Summer League Preview, Odds, & Prediction

The Brooklyn Nets will close out the NBA Summer League with a tough matchup against the Toronto Raptors at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After dropping its opening game, Brooklyn has riled off three consecutive victories while the Raptors are also trying to put an exclamation point on a strong showing in Las Vegas. Toronto is 3-1 in four NBA Summer League games after squeezing out a one-point win in its previous contest on Saturday.

Can the Nets advance in the Summer League tournament with a win against the youthful Raptors on Tuesday night?

Thomas Explodes For 36 In Win vs. Spurs

Brooklyn edged the San Antonio Spurs 104-100 on Saturday behind rookie Cam Thomas, who finished with a game-high 36 points in the win. Big man Alize Johnson also contributed a big stat line, posting a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds on the night. 

CAM. THOMAS. CLUTCH.@BrooklynNets x #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/euUVSmXoow

— NBA (@NBA) August 15, 2021

Thomas has been among the most impressive rookie in Las Vegas. The 27th overall pick in the NBA Draft, the rookie from LSU leads the NBA Summer League in scoring at 27.0 points per game and has scored more than 30 points in two of his four contests. Thomas has shot the ball efficiently, knocking down 42.3 percent of his field goals, 36.0 percent of his 3-point shots, and 84.9 percent from the charity stripe in four contests.

🚨 Cam Thomas. Buzzer. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/TVkOJlFGY2

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) August 12, 2021

As a team, Brooklyn is averaging a healthy 92.3 points per game despite shooting just 39.0 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range in Las Vegas. Instead, the Nets have made a living at the free-throw line, where they have shot a league-high 84.5 percent and lead the NBA Summer League with 29.0 free throw attempts per game.

Barnes’ Big Night Helps Raptors Sting Hornets

Toronto squeaked by the Charlotte Hornets 80-79 on Saturday behind a big night from first-round pick Scottie Barnes. Barnes led all scorers with 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists on the evening while point guard Malachi Flynn chipped in 11 points, 10 boards, and seven dimes in the win. 

Scottie Barnes gets his own miss, spins and hits the baseline fade. pic.twitter.com/cA5sMx67UT

— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) August 15, 2021

The Raptors surprised some basketball pundits by selecting Barnes with the No. 4 overall pick in the NBA Draft but the rookie from Florida State has flashed his upside potential in Las Vegas. Through four games, Barnes has averaged 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He’s also showcased his all-around game by racking up 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per contest. Meanwhile, Flynn leads the Raptors Summer League team in scoring at 16.8 points per game.

As a team, Toronto comes in averaging 86.3 points per game. The Raptors have shot 39.7 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from 3-point range, and just 64.2 percent from the free-throw line in Las Vegas.

NBA Summer League Betting Preview 

The Raptors come into this game favored by three points with the projected total set at 175.5 points. Bovada sportsbook has set Toronto as money line favorites with -155 odds and money line bettors can squeeze a little more value out of Brooklyn at +135. 

NBA Betting Trends

Trends can be valuable information for bettors looking to improve their NBA betting strategy.

Below is a shortlist of trends for the NBA Summer League. 

Toronto

• Raptors are 3-1 in their last four Summer League games
• Raptors have scored at least 80 points in each of their last four Summer League games
• Raptors have allowed 80 points or fewer in three of their last four Summer League games

Brooklyn 

• Nets are 3-0 in their last three Summer League games
• Nets have allowed at least 90 points in three of their last four Summer League games

NBA Summer League Betting Predictions

Below, you can find more NBA betting predictions and analysis for the NBA Summer League.

NBA Summer League Spread Prediction:

Two of Toronto’s three NBA Summer League wins have come by just a single point, so there should be some value on the underdogs in this spot. The Nets enter with one of the most unheralded Summer League rosters but they come in as one of the hottest teams in Las Vegas. Brooklyn is riding a three-game winning streak and is getting three points on a neutral floor. The Nets feature a good mix of veterans and young players, which should give them an advantage in terms of overall depth. Take the Nets to cover the spread in Las Vegas on Tuesday evening.   

NBA Summer League Money Line Prediction:

The Nets have a veteran roster compared to most NBA Summer League squads and it also features the top scorer in Las Vegas. Thomas has gotten into a groove since his off-shooting night in the Summer League opener and is coming off of a 36-point performance against the Spurs. While Flynn is an excellent defender, Thomas’ ability to get to the free-throw line and put pressure on opposing defenses should be the difference in this game. At this price, take a chance with the Nets in this NBA Summer League battle on Tuesday evening. 

NBA Summer League Total Prediction:

Brooklyn hasn’t shown much interest on the defensive end of the floor during the NBA Summer League. In four games in Las Vegas, the Nets have allowed 90 points or more three times and are fresh off of allowing 100 points in their previous win over the Spurs on Saturday. Meanwhile, Toronto has scored at least 80 points in three of its previous four Summer League games and should be able to bounce back following a poor shooting performance on Saturday. Take this game to go over the projected total on Tuesday evening.