The Raptors travel to Atlanta to face Trae Young and the Hawks for the first half of a Thursday-Saturday back-to-back (7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet). Toronto will be looking to build off its 109-93 comeback win over Orlando on Tuesday. Atlanta is looking for its 12th win in 20 home games this season.
The Sporting News has you covered with the NBA odds for this Eastern Conference clash, as well as some best bets and top props from the BetMGM online sportsbook.
Tbe Raps have put together four wins over the 10 games since the calendar flipped to 2025. That’s a step in the right direction, considering Darko Rajakovic’s squad needed 16 games to bag its fourth win at the beginning of the season. Still, Scottie Barnes and the Raptors are a long ways from flirting with playoff contention.
The Hawks, meanwhile, are right in the playoff picture through the first half of the season. Sitting sixth in the East, Quin Snyder’s Atlanta squad would face the conference-rival Knicks if the postseason began today.
Let’s get to the odds for this Thursday night tilt, then reveal some best bets, top props, and our final score prediction for Raps vs. Hawks.
Raptors vs. Hawks odds, pick against spread
All odds and props are from BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.
- ATS: Hawks -4.5 (-110) | Raptors +4.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Hawks -185 | Raptors +150
- Over/under: O 234.5 (-110) | U 234.5 (-110)
Raptors vs. Hawks best bets and final score prediction
The Hawks are feisty, but they’ve hit the skids a little lately. Atlanta has gone just 5-5 over its past 10 games, and Most Improved Player candidate Jalen Johnson has become a seemingly-permanent fixture on the injury report with a shoulder issue, and seeing Trae Young (Achilles) and 2024 first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher (adductor) isn’t a great sign, either.
Toronto, meanwhile, has finally achieved some semblance of health. After suffering long stretches with some combination of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Brett Brown and Kelly Olynyk hurt, it has to be nice for Raptors Nation to have an almost full squad.
And the Raps also benefit from having a day between games to rest before this one, whereas the Hawks will be coming off a home game against Cade Cunningham and the tough-as-nails Pistons on Wednesday. Atlanta has gone just 3-8 straight up and against the spread with a rest disadvantage this season. That bodes very well for a young team like Toronto.
The Raptors also struggle with some of the hustle and defensive stats. They rank in the bottom-third of the Association in defensive rebounding, opening a door for Barnes, Olynyk and Jakob Poeltl to win second-chance opportunities. Atlanta also gets sloppy with the ball at times, and could be thrown by the youthful legs of the Toronto defenders on fast breaks and on the perimeter.
The Hawks could and very well should win this game. But Toronto has shown us enough in this New Year that we can’t trust laying the points for the home favorites. Take the ATL straight up in a mini-parlay or consider targeting the OVER on the projected total. The spread feels too close to call either way.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Hawks 121, Raptors 116 — The Hawks win and just barely cover, while the total sails OVER the projected total of 233.5.
Raptors vs. Hawks top player prop bet
Jakob Poeltl, C, Raptors: OVER 9.5 rebounds (-155 on BetMGM)
Poeltl fouled out of Toronto’s last game against the Magic, one of the only Raptors to have a bad night in the otherwise awesome smack-down Darko’s squad laid down. Expect a bounce-back effort from Poeltl, who pulled down double-digit rebounds in his four previous games and in five of his prior six.
The Hawks have major issues pulling down defensive boards, so Poeltl could feast on the offensive glass like he’s 22 again (heck, he’s only 29, anyway — still a spring chicken!). Bet Shaq Schnitzel to haul down at least 10 boards in this one — and if you’re feeling brazen, alt-bet him at +275 to get to 13-plus.
