Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors NBA Picks & Predictions 12/29/2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Air Canada Centre

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Atlanta Hawks head to Air Canada Centre to take on the Toronto Raptors on Friday, December 29, 2017. The opening line for this game has Toronto as 11.5 point favorites.

The Hawks come into this game with an overall record of 9-25. They are 5th in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -4.3 as they are averaging 104.1 points per game while giving up 108.4 per contest. The Raptors have an overall record of 23-10. They currently are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 110.6 points per game and surrendering 102.9, good for a point differential of 7.7.

Valuable Atlanta Hawks Betting Trends

The Atlanta Hawks are 19-14-1 against the spread

The Atlanta Hawks are 19-15-0 against the over/under

Important Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 19-14-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 16-17-0 against the over/under

Key Atlanta Hawks Injuries

12/28/17 F Mike Muscala Ankle is "?" Friday vs Toronto
11/29/17 C Dewayne Dedmon Tibia is out indefinitely

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Taurean Waller-Prince comes into this game averaging 12.7 points per contest while playing 31.1 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 5.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 77%. Dennis Schroder averages 19.9 points per contest in 32.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 6.7 assists per game and 3 rebounds per contest for Atlanta. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Kyle Lowry has scored 16.1 points per contest while playing 32.7 minutes per game this season for the Raptors. He hauls in 6.2 rebounds per contest and has 7.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 90%. DeMar DeRozan averages 24 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 34.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.4 rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Atlanta averages 104.1 points per contest this year, which is 18th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -4.38 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 12th. From 3-point territory they shoot 38%, which is good for 6th in the NBA. They average 39.7 boards per contest and 24.1 assists per game, which ranks them 28th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 9th with 15.5 per game. The Hawks allow 108.4 points per contest which is 24th in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 24th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.4 rebounds a game which ranks 18th, and they allow 25.8 assists per game which puts them in 30th place in the league. They force 16.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 29th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto is 4th in the NBA with 110.6 points per contest this season. They are 7th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 7.7. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 26th in the league. They are 19th in the NBA in rebounding with 42.2 boards per contest and 12th in assists per game with 22.8. The Raptors are 22nd in turnovers per contest with 14.1. The Raptors give up 102.9 points per game, which ranks them 10th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 9th and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 13th with 22 dimes allowed per game and 7th with 41.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Raptors are 28th in the league in forcing turnovers with 16 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawks are 17th in the league in defensive rating with 111.4, and their offensive rating of 106.9 is ranked 1st. They are 12th in the NBA in pace with 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 11th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA. Atlanta is 5th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Toronto is 23rd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 26th in the NBA. The Raptors are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 105, and their offensive rating of 112.8 is ranked 25th. They are 10th in the NBA in pace with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 5th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 7th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Hawks/Raptors NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Atlanta +11.5

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