Free NBA Pick: Raptors vs. Hawks NBA Odds
Looking for Toronto Raptors vs. Atlanta Hawks free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Raptors taking on the Hawks on Saturday, February 26th, 2022 at State Farm Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Raptors Hawks matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(32-26) Toronto Raptors vs. Atlanta Hawks (28-31)
Date: Saturday, February 26th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
NBA Moneyline Odds: Raptors +120 | Hawks -126 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Hawks -2
NBA Betting Total: 225
Saturday, February 26th, finds the Toronto Raptors facing the Atlanta Hawks for the third of four scheduled meetings this season. Toronto won both prior matches on January 31st (106-100) and on February 4th (125-114) with the first match ending a seven-game win streak by Atlanta.
Toronto is playing a back-to-back set having been pummelled by Hornets 93-125 on Friday while the Hawks lost (108-112) in their first game back from the break to the Bulls on Thursday.
Last season, the teams played three times with the Hawks sweeping the regular-season series. The Raptors have won 49 of the 97 matches played versus the Hawks all-time.
Toronto Raptors
Just as the Raptors seemed to be getting healthy and during an important period in the schedule where they’ll play three back-to-back sets in eight days and seven games in 10 days they took a hit with OG Anunoby being sidelined due to a fracture in his right ring finger.
Coach Nick Nurse updated Anunoby will visit a specialist to determine how long he’ll be sidelined but stated it was a minor fracture. Without him on Friday the Raptors looked like they were all still on vacation as the Hornets jumped on them early and sailed to victory.
It was clear Toronto didn’t have it early and when they came out of the lockers after halftime and could only muster 13 points it at least allowed Nurse to uncharacteristically give the majority of his starters an early exit.
Aside from the absence of Anunoby the other key was Pascal Siakam wasn’t playing to his typical recent standard and after the match, it was revealed he was ill but asked to try to play through it. After shooting 3 of 13 perhaps he would’ve been better off taking the night off.
The starting backcourt also struggled with Fred VanVleet shooting 3 of 12 for eight points and Gary Trent Jr shooting 5 of 12 for 12 points. Khem Birch who replaced Annuoby in the starting lineup scored a single point.
In fact, the only starter who had it going was rookie Scottie Barnes who registered a career-best 28 points along with five rebounds, an assist, and two steals. He was also the only starter to play over 30 minutes (32).
Toronto outrebounded the Hornets in both prior matches by 42-37 and 51-38 but on Friday it was Charlotte who feasted on the glass (52-36).
Atlanta Hawks
Following his first All-Star starting assignment, Trae Young suffered from a cold shooting night (3 of 17) but managed to collect a double-double of 14 points and 10 assists in the loss to Chicago.
Clint Capela also registered a double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds while Bogdan Bogdanovic recorded a season-best 27 points. Danilo Gallinari filled in for the missing John Collins offering 26 points and nine rebounds.
DeAndre Hunter (illness) is probable, Gorgui Dieng (personal) is questionable, and Lou Williams (hip) is out Saturday versus the Raptors while John Collins (foot) remains out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Raptors are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings against each other
- The teams are 5-5 ATS in the last 10 matches versus each other
- The over/under is 6-4 in the team’s last 10 head to head matches
Free Toronto Raptors vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA Prediction:
Toronto was the only team who could slow the Hawks during a sizzling stretch doing it twice in four days but the question is whether they’ll suffer a similar fate as they did versus the Hornets on Friday who they’d also beaten in the prior two meetings.
Toronto is 7-3 in second games of back-to-back sets but will need a much better effort all-around and ideally a healthier Siakam.
As much as that stat would typically have me picking Toronto (and because I believe they’re the better overall team) I’m antsy to go with them not knowing how sick Siakam is so I’ll take the Hawks to win and cover.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Hawks ATS
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