Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls

The Toronto Raptors are somehow pulling off one of the least effective tanking efforts we’ve seen in years—mostly because they keep winning.

Despite their best attempts to lose, they’ve now strung together four straight victories. A big reason? Their laughably easy schedule down the stretch. This recent winning streak includes games against the struggling 76ers, Hornets, Nets, and Wizards—hardly a murderer’s row.

To be fair, the Raptors are trying to lose. Since the All-Star break, they’ve been shuffling players in and out of the injury report and routinely benching key contributors in tight games. But none of it has worked. Darko Rajakovic has this team playing disciplined defense, and they’re just too well-coached to completely bottom out.

Now, they face a Chicago Bulls squad that’s actually trying to win. The Bulls currently hold the 10th seed in the East—the last play-in spot—and are 5-point favorites at home. Ironically, the Raptors are the only team left with a shot at catching them.

Chicago has been solid since the break, ranking 10th in net rating, but they’re far from perfect. And they’ll have to deal with Toronto’s bizarre tanking strategy: Jakob Poeltl’s "one game on, one game off" routine. Since March began, the Raptors' big man has sat every other game, usually listed as "rest."

The funny part? When Poeltl does play, he’s been dominant. Over his last seven appearances, he’s averaging 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in just 24 minutes per game.

The Bulls have improved defensively lately, but they still rank 20th in opponent points in the paint since the break—exactly where Poeltl thrives.

His points prop is set at 14.5 tonight, a number he’s cleared in seven of his last eight games. But I’m eyeing his alternate line of 20+ points at +340 as my best bet. He’s hit that mark in three of his last six, including back-to-back games.