Vegas Play of the Day: Blazers vs. Raptors in NBA Summer League

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, July 13, 2017 | 10:52 a.m.

We’ve entered the fourth season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won back-to-back titles in the 2015-2016 and 2016-17 seasons, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015.

Portland Trail Blazers plus-4 vs. Toronto Raptors: $330 to win $300

Nothing says gambling more than putting money on glorified exhibition basketball. There’s not much else on the betting board today, though, and NBA Summer League betting has taken over sports books anyway.

These games are difficult to handicap with makeshift rosters and small sample sizes, so my first look always goes toward the underdogs. The two biggest on the board today are Sacramento and Portland.

The Kings could be worth a look with DeAaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Frank Mason all playing well, but lining up against the Mavericks has been a losing proposition in summer league. Between the Orlando and Las Vegas competitions, Dallas is 8-0.

Toronto is also undefeated, but it’s no juggernaut. The Raptors’ roster, in fact, might be less impressive than the one they’re facing tonight.

Portland is being devalued because it lost first-round pick Zach Collins and veteran Pat Connaughton to injuries earlier in the week, but it played better without them in a 11-point win over Chicago on Tuesday.

The Blazers’ top six players — Caleb Swanigan, Nick Johnson, Jorge Gutierrez, Jake Layman, Jarnel Stokes and R.J. Hunter — are naturally complementary. They look like the biggest underdog with the best chance on the board.

Current Standings: Granger (3-1, $11,062), Keefer (1-1, $10,129), Brewer (1-1, $10,100), Grimala (0-1, $9,500)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.