Raptors vs. Hawks Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
The Hawks are not a very good team and probably will battle the Phoenix Suns and post-LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers for the worst record in the NBA this season.
However, Atlanta does have one of the most exciting young players in the league in Trae Young. After becoming the first player in Division I history to lead the country in scoring and assists at Oklahoma, as a freshman no less, Young was the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s draft by Dallas but was part of a pre-arranged trade to go to Atlanta. Some nights, Young looks like the next Steph Curry. Others, like he’s overmatched. Such is the life of a 20-year-old with the weight of a franchise on his shoulders.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Toronto was 4-0 against the Hawks last year. DeMar DeRozan led six Raptors in averaging double figures at 16.5 ppg. Jonas Valanciunas averaged 15.0 points and 9.8 rebounds. Dennis Schroder led Atlanta in averaging 14.8 points but he was traded this off-season in a salary dump (and to open a starting spot for Young) to Oklahoma City.
One of the greatest Raptors in history is with the Hawks this year: 41-year-old Vince Carter, still a solid contributor off the bench. Toronto is 5-2 ATS in its past seven trips to Atlanta.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto escaped an upset bid in Orlando on Tuesday, winning 93-91 on Danny Green’s fade-away jumper with less than a second remaining. The Raptors had led by as many as 18. It was the fewest points they scored this season and fewest allowed. Kawhi Leonard had 18 points, but seems likely to sit Wednesday because he hasn’t played both ends of a back-to-back this season.
Kyle Lowry was a game-time call with an ankle injury and also played, finishing with nine points and seven assists. Pretty good chance he sits here, too. C.J. Miles (right adductor) missed his fourth straight game and OG Anunoby (wrist) his second in a row. The Raptors have covered their past six in the second of a back-to-back.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks lost their eighth in a row Monday, 127-119 at home to the Clippers – blowing a 15-point second-half lead. Young was just 8-for-22 from the field but had 25 points and a career-high 17 assists. He’s averaging 16.8 points and 8.3 assists but hitting just 39.1 per cent overall and 24 per cent from deep. Young is 1-for-19 from three-point range in his past four games and is turning the ball over frequently.
Maybe Atlanta’s best all-around player right know is forward Taurean Prince, who returned from a two-game absence on Monday and had 21 points. Rookie forward Omari Spellman suffered a hip contusion early on and didn’t return. Atlanta is last in the NBA in defence, allowing 118.2 ppg. The Hawks are 1-5 ATS in their past six at home.
