The Atlanta Hawks (9-14) travel to face off against the Toronto Raptors (10-14) on Friday, December 15th. This game will be played at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Hawks are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Hawks. Tip-off is set for 7:30 ET.

Hawks vs Raptors

The Hawks Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

In their latest game against the Raptors, Trae Young was the top scorer for the Hawks’ offense, scoring 35 points and shooting 13/27 from the field. Dejounte Murray contributed 20 points, but Atlanta lost the game 135-128.

Heading into their matchup with the Raptors, the Hawks are 9-14 on the season and have lost five straight games. In Eastern Conference play, the Hawks are 6-12 and are 3-2 against non-conference opponents.

This season, Atlanta holds an ATS record of 5-18, which also includes their eight game losing streak against the spread. The Hawks have experienced a two game ATS loss streak as favorites, and they are 3-9 vs. the spread when they are underdogs.

The Raptors Are Coming Off A Win

Pascal Siakam scored 33 for Toronto against the Hawks which was the most on the team. His field goal percentage for the game was 57.5%. Scottie Barnes also added 27 points as the Raptors won the game by a score of 135-128.

Heading into their matchup with the Hawks, the Raptors have an overall record of 10-14 and have gone 1-2 in their last three games. In Eastern Conference play, the Raptors are 6-13 compared to a 4-1 record in non-conference matchups.

Toronto holds a .500 ATS record for the season, standing at 12-12 ATS. When playing on the road, the Raptors hold an ATS record of 5-6 in contrast to a 7-6 record against the spread when playing at home.

Hawks Offense Breakdown

For the season, the Atlanta offense is the 3rd ranked unit in the NBA, at 122.5 points per contest. So far, Atlanta is averaging 101.7 possessions per game, making them one of the more up-tempo teams in the league. Not only is the team ranked near the top of the league in possessions, but this fast-paced style has translated to an increased number of made shots, as they are 4th in the league in made field goals per game.

Raptors Offense Breakdown

In 24 games games, Toronto has an average of 112.8 points per game (21st). Coming into today’s game, the Raptors will be looking to improve their 3-point shooting numbers, as they are averaging just 11.5 made 3’s per game. If the Toronto offense is going to turn things around, not only do they need to improve their outside shooting but they must do a better job protecting the ball. Currently, they are averaging 13.5 turnovers per game.

Hawks Team Defense

Coming into the game, the Hawks’ defense is giving up an average of 123.3 points per game. So far, they have given up more points than the NBA league average in 73.9% of their games.

The Atlanta defense has allowed opponents to shoot 38.4% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 50.3% of their field goal attempts vs. Atlanta.

Raptors Team Defense

On defense, Raptors is currently around the league average in points allowed, giving up an average of 114.4 points per game.

In their previous game, the Raptors’ defense struggled against the Hawks, giving up 128 points on a field goal percentage of 48%.

Key Players For The Hawks And Raptors

Our game forecasts for today suggest that Trae Young is set to be the main scorer for the Hawks, recording 20 points and shooting 7/15 from the field. During this season, he is delivering an average of 27.2 points per game, along with 2.8 rebounds.

On the opposing side, we anticipate Pascal Siakam to be the top scorer for the Raptors. Our projection has him finishing the game with 18, and he is expected to secure 5 rebounds. This season, he has put together a field goal percentage of 50.4%, and he is contributing 21.2 points per game on average.

Hawks vs Raptors Trends

• Across the Hawks last five road games, the team averaged 121 points per game while allowing 131. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 0-5, while going 1-4 straight-up.
• Through their last ten home contests, the Raptors offense has averaged 113 points per game while allowing an average of 119. Toronto posted an overall record of 3-7 while going 4-6 ATS.
• Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Hawks have gone 0-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 0-3.
• Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Raptors have gone 4-6 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 5-5.

 

Hawks vs Raptors Prediction

 

As the underdogs with a spread of +2, we recommend going with the Hawks on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 244.5, and our model predicts the Hawks and Raptors to score a combined 217 points. We recommend betting on the under.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.