JEFF ALLEN GAME PREVIEW: HAWKS at RAPTORS
With 8-10 games left in the NBA regular season, pretty much all eight spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs have been determined with Chicago still having a slight chance to run down Indiana or Detroit for the 7-8 hole. That said, there are still important seeding considerations at stake over the next three weeks. This includes our feature matchup tonight, Atlanta at Toronto. The white hot Hawks are currently the third seed in the East, five games behind the Raptors for second and two games in the win column over the Miami Heat who currently sit fourth. The Raptors are 2.5 game behind Cleveland (three
in the win column) for the top seed in the East. Very doable for the Barney’s if Cleveland continues to rest it’s Big Three down the stretch. Atlanta travels north of the boarder tonight as a -1 point favorite with the high/low settled at 200.
The Hawks got off to a slow start this year after being surprise runaway winners in the Eastern Conference last year. There were even talks of blowing the whole thing up around the All-State break with all Atlanta players available and on the market through the trade deadline. The Hawks have won nine of ten and appear to be hitting their stride at the perfect time. Paul Milsap (17.2, 8.7, 3.3), Al Horford ( 15.3, 7.1, 3.2 ), and Jeff Teague (15.1, 2.8, 6.0) are the usual suspects from last year and each are having solid seasons.
Toronto has had a big season to this point but some inopportune minor injuries have seen the Raptors go just 3-3 over their L6 and able to gain no ground on the Cavs over the last ten days. Key bench player Terrance Ross is expected back tonight after missing three games with hand issues. Kyle Lowry (21.6, 4.8, 6.0) is questionable after having his elbow drained early in the week. DeMarre Carroll was the summer’s key free agency pickup from the Hawks but Carrol has played just 23 games with knee issues and is not close to returning at this point. The Raptors are as deep as any team in the league however and have not missed a beat with their next man up philosophy.
The Raptors have won five of the last six in the series including a 104-96 decision on this floor March 10th. That said, the Raptors have lost four of five and off a 119-100 blowout home loss the the Thunder just 48 hours ago. As previously mentioned, Atlanta is playing extremely well and actually 5-1 in L6 as a road (game opened Toronto -1) dog. The Hawks are in three straight unders while the Raptors are 6-3 under L9 (L3 over). Four of the L5 series games on this floor have gone under so the low might be the best option to look.