Toronto Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers (-1.5, 208)

How do you milk a dinosaur?

The comedic answer is “very carefully”. However, for bettors, milking a dinosaur has been as easy (and safe) as putting down a play on the Toronto Raptors.

The Dinos have gone 11-5 over the past month, covering the spread in nine of those contests. In recent weeks, Toronto has won seven of its last eight games, going 6-2 against the spread. The Raptors’ most recent win came Wednesday night, defeating the Orlando Magic 108-103 as 8-point road underdogs.

“We came out with a focus, a different mentality where we hit first,’’ point guard Jarrett Jack told the Toronto Star. “We have to keep rolling.”

Toronto and Philadelphia have yet to meet this season. Their most recent game was a 111-104 Raptors’ win as 2-point home dogs last April.

Pick: Raptors


Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers (+3, 193.5)

If Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers wasn’t an indication of how valuable Pau Gasol is to the Lakers, the drop off in offense since the All-Star forward went down sure is.

With Gasol sidelined with a strained hamstring, the Lakers have scored just 88 and 91 points in their last two games after averaging 104 points per game on the season. Gasol is scoring almost 17 points a night and making life much easier on fellow forwards Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom by drawing extra attention from defenders.

Against the Clippers, the Lakers’ triangle offense was out of sorts. They managed to shoot only 38 percent from the field, 31 percent from 3-point range, had just eight assists in the first half and committed 12 turnovers.

"There was just too much individual play," coach Phil Jackson told reporters.

Those last two games have played under the total after Los Angeles had eclipsed the number in five straight games. The Lakers have an over/under record of 17-17-1 on the year.

Pick: Under