Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors odds, picks and prediction
The Toronto Raptors (17-19) remain severely undermanned due to COVID-19 protocols coming out of the NBA All-Star break as they host the Atlanta Hawks (16-20) Thursday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Hawks-Raptors odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
Both the Raptors and Hawks are vying for spots in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament and will need to be much more consistent in the second half of the season. The Hawks beat the Raps 132-121 in early February in their only meeting this season.
Nate McMillan took over behind the Hawks' bench as interim head coach after Lloyd Pierce was fired. He led the team to a 2-0 record before the break.
Toronto entered the break with back-to-back losses and a 1-4 record over its last five games.
Hawks at Raptors: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:51 a.m. ET.
- Money line : Hawks -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Raptors +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread/ATS : Hawks -2.5 (-110) | Raptors +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under : 225.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Hawks at Raptors: Key injuries
Hawks
- SF De'Andre Hunter (knee) out
- SF Cam Reddish (Achilles) out
Raptors
- SF OG Anunoby (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Malachi Flynn (health and safety protocols) out
- PF Pascal Siakam (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Fred VanVleet (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Terence Davis (ankle) questionable
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Hawks at Raptors: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Hawks 120, Raptors 104
Money line (ML)
The HAWKS (-140) are a very strong play on the road. They beat a healthy Raptors side by 11 points a little over a month ago despite losing the turnover battle 18-6. Atlanta outrebounded Toronto 43-38 and posted a .696 effective field-goal percentage to Toronto's .490.
The Raptors' depleted roster had little to offer in the losses to the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. The return of head coach Nick Nurse won't be enough to turn the tide.
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Against the spread (ATS)
This is a soft line and HAWKS -2.5 (-110) needs to be HAMMERED.
Listen to the latest episode of Bet Slippin' Podcast for SportsbookWire's Geoff Clark's breakdown of this matchup. He was on the Hawks before it was announced Toronto's starters would be remaining in the COVID protocols.
The Raps remain without three of their top-five leading scorers and two of their top-three rebounders. Additionally, Toronto attempts the fourth-most 3-pointers per game (40.4) and Atlanta surprisingly has the third-best 3-point defense with a .346 success rate allowed.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Raptors went 2-0 against the Over/Under with a shortened bench before the break but it was the Pistons and Celtics doing the heavy lifting with 129 and 132 points, respectively.
The Hawks' strong 3-point defense will limit the scoring production of Raptors Gs Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell, and there are few other active options on offense.
Add UNDER 225.5 (-110) as a correlating play to the Hawks' spread.
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Also see:
- NBA trade deadline: What each team could (or should) do (Hoops Hype)
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