Atlanta Hawks vs. Toronto Raptors Predictions, Picks and NBA Preview – March 30, 2016

Here come the Hawks. Atlanta moved to within five games of Toronto for second place in the Eastern Conference with a thrilling two-point victory over Chicago on Monday. The Hawks will look to slice that deficit even further when they take on the aforementioned Raptors in a blockbuster showdown at Air Canada Centre.

Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this critical matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of San Antonio vs. New Orleans and Golden State vs. Utah.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Toronto Raptors Preview

Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto

When: Wednesday, March 30, 7:30 PM ET

Line: Atlanta Hawks (+2) at Toronto Raptors (-2); total: 200.0 – view all NBA lines

TV Broadcast: NBATV/TSN

Betting on the Atlanta Hawks (45-30)

The Atlanta Hawks extended their winning streak to four games with a nerve-wracking 102-100 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. Five players scored in double-figures for the Hawks who moved one game clear of the Miami Heat for third place in the Eastern Conference. They have now won 12 of their last 14 games.

Key to the Hawks’ stunning resurgence has been their excellent play on the defensive end. The Hawks are allowing an average of just 96.5 points over their last four games. That’s way below their season average of 98.9 points allowed per game. That impregnable defense was in full display Monday against Chicago where they held the Bulls to just 38.1 percent shooting from the field.

Atlanta will look to keep the momentum going when it takes on Toronto later tonight. For the Hawks to accomplish that feat, they will need their backcourt to continue their outstanding play. Jeff Teague and backup Dennis Schroder combined for 40 points in the win against the Bulls, with all of those points coming from inside the 3-point arc. They are averaging a combined 26.4 points and 10.5 assists per game for the Hawks this season.

The Hawks are 8-2 SU and ATS in their last 10 road games.

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Betting on the Toronto Raptors (49-24)

Toronto opened its two-game home stand in disappointing fashion as it suffered a stinging 119-100 defeat to Oklahoma City on Monday night. The Raptors simply had no answer for Russell Westbrook in that game as he posted his 16th triple-double this season. It has been a miserable stretch for the playoff-bound Raptors who have now lost three of their last four games.

The Raptors will look to get their season back on track when they lock horns with the Hawks later tonight. For Toronto to return to the win column, it needs to get a much better performance from Kyle Lowry. He has been struggling mightily of late, averaging just 14.5 points on 26.2 percent shooting in his last four games. Lowry shot just 4-of-14 from the field in the loss to the Thunder on Monday.

Apart from Lowry, the Raptors will also need to get some solid production from DeMar DeRozan. He scored 30 points in the latest meeting with the Hawks and has averaged 25.2 points on 51.8 percent shooting in his last 11 games in the series. DeRozan has been magnificent for the Raptors this campaign, averaging a team-best 23.6 points per game.

He will have his work cut out for him, however, against an Atlanta side that’s sixth in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing just 98.9 points per game this season. That won’t faze the Raptors, though, who have won their last three meetings with the Hawks. They have held Atlanta to 87.3 points per game on 37.3 percent shooting in those said contests.

The Raptors are 7-3 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 home games.

Writer’s Prediction

Toronto (-2) wins, 100-95.