Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Toronto Raptors – Game #82
Bismack Biyombo will likely start at center again for the Spurs (Photo via X)
The San Antonio Spurs play their last game of the 2024-25 NBA regular season this afternoon when they host the Toronto Raptors at the Frost Bank Center. The Spurs enter with a record of 33-48, while the Raptors are 30-51.
With the Spurs locked into the eighth spot in the NBA lottery odds, San Antonio doesn’t have anything to play for against the Raptors. Toronto is also locked into the seventh spot, so neither team is incentivized to win or lose this contest.
Last game, San Antonio needed a loss to lock in their lottery odds so the coaching staff took it easy against the Phoenix Suns. After a close first half, the coaches sat Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes in the second half and the Spurs lost by a final score of 117-98. Rookie Stephon Castle played really well once again, finishing with 16 points and ten assists in 31 minutes.
The Raptors are actually 6-4 in their last ten games. They’ll finish the season 11th in the Eastern Conference. However, it was a distant 11th and Toronto never really had a chance to sneak into the play-in tournament.
In the only other matchup between these two teams this season, the Spurs dominated the Raptors and won by a final count of 123-89. The Spurs led 36-16 at the end of the first quarter and strolled to the big win. Devin Vassell led the way in that game with 25 points on 11-for-14 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 shooting from three-point range.
Atlanta Hawks Draft Pick Update
The Spurs will receive the Hawks first round pick in the upcoming draft. San Antonio acquired the unprotected pick in the Dejounte Murray trade.
The Hawks are the eight seed in the East, which means they will take part in the play-in tournament. First, Atlanta will play a road game against the Orlando Magic. If they win, they advance to the playoffs. If the Hawks lose, they’ll play the winner of a game that features the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. If the Hawks lose again, they’ll be eliminated and the Spurs will receive Atlanta’s lottery pick.
San Antonio Spurs Draft Pick Odds
There’s a 34.5% chance the Spurs will pick eighth in the 2025 draft. San Antonio’s chances of picking ninth are 32.1%.
Obviously, the Spurs will hope for lottery ball luck. Their odds of landing the No. 1 pick are 6.0%. San Antonio’s chances of landing any of the top four picks is 26.2%.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
In the final game of the regular season, the Spurs will keep Devin Vassell on the sidelines with ankle soreness. Jeremy Sochan is also out with back spasms. Of course, the three players who are out for the season will miss the game: Victor Wembanyama (blood clot), De’Aaron Fox (finger surgery) and Riley Minix (shoulder).
Betting Guide: Spurs vs. Raptors
The Spurs are favored by five points and the over/under is 232 points. With the season coming to an end, don’t expect much defense by either team today. For that reason, the smart money is on the over. There’s also a strong chance that the Spurs win by six or more points — but the over is an even better bet.