With the Brooklyn Nets hot on their heels, the Toronto Raptors look to add more wins to insure them for the Atlantic Division title. In the college ranks, the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Xavier Musketeers face each other for a right to be included in the round of 64.
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Toronto Raptors vs. Atlanta Hawks (7:30 PM EST)
Line: Toronto Raptors (-2) at Atlanta Hawks (+2); total 202.0
Betting on the Toronto Raptors
[sc:NBA240banner ]Despite a 121-113 loss to Phoenix on Sunday, Toronto remains on top of the Atlantic Division with a 37-28 record. The loss was the Raptors’ first at home in four games and third overall in the last 10. Kyle Lowry recorded 28 points and added 13 assists, while Terrence Ross contributed 22 points in a loss that could be largely blamed on the inability of the Raptors’ bench to produce points. Toronto’s relievers were outscored by Phoenix’s counterparts, 59-11.
The Raptors, who are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games, got All-Star numbers from Lowry in their recent games. The six-foot guard is averaging 22.0 PPG, 9.8 APG, and 7.2 RPG. He also leads the team in assists (7.9 APG) and steals (1.6 SPG). He is expected to play tonight against Atlanta after getting hurt in the game against Phoenix, when he was kneed in the head by P.J. Tucker during a loose ball scramble late in the game.
Betting on the Atlanta Hawks
Even a bad 15-game stretch for the Hawks, in which they only went 1-14 SU, was not enough to take them out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. After losing to the Clippers on March 8, the Hawks regrouped and found their groove, winning their next four assignments. Next up for Atlanta is a game against the Raptors, whom the Hawks have beaten eight times in the last 10 meetings at Philips Arena.
Defense has been the driving force for the Hawks in their latest wins. They haven’t allowed opposing teams to score more than 97 points in their last three wins, holding them down to an average of 39.3% shooting from the field. With focus clearly on stopping the other team’s offense, it’s no wonder the Hawks are 3-0 UNDER in their last three games and 6-1 in the last seven overall.
Prediction – Total Goes Under
The Raptors benefited from a relatively lax defense by Phoenix in the last game, enabling them to score more than 100 points for the first time in four games. That won’t happen tonight, as the Hawks’ defense will ground them to below 95 points.
North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Xavier Musketeers (9:10 PM EST)
Line: North Carolina State Wolfpack (+2.5) vs. Xavier Musketeers (-2.5); total 142.0
Betting on the North Carolina State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack missed the opportunity to play in the ACC championship game when they lost to Duke in the conference semis, 67-75. Playing against Xavier tonight in their First Four match-up, the Wolfpack are eager not to miss the boat to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They are 5-0 ATS in their last five games.
Eyes will be on ACC player of the year T.J. Warren for this game. Warren is the third-best scorer in the nation with 24.8 PPG. The sophomore guard has done even better in the Wolfpack’s last five games by scoring 31.2 PPG. Earlier this month, Warren dropped back-to-back 40-plus-point games against Pittsburgh (41) and against Boston College (42). North Carolina State won both games.
Betting on the Xavier Musketeers
Just like the Wolfpack, Xavier lost in its conference tournament semifinals, when Creighton beat them, 78-86. The loss was a sorry one for Isaiah Philmore, who scored a season-high 23 points on 9-13 shooting. A repeat of Philmore’s performance and the return to form of big man Matt Stainbrook are the keys to a victory for the Cincinnati-based school.
Now, fighting for a spot in the round of 64, the Musketeers are hopeful that Stainbrook will finally get his bearings back after a sprained knee forced him to sit out Xavier’s last regular season game, and limited him to just 15 minutes in the team’s Big East tournament quarterfinals win over Marquette. Stainbrook is the Big East’s fifth best rebounder, hauling down 7.3 boards per game and is an imposing presence on defense with 1.0 BPG.
Prediction – Xavier Wins and Covers
The Musketeers will dominate the boards with the return to fine form of Matt Stainbrook, opening opportunities on the perimeter for Semaj Christon and Justin Martin.
