The Raptors still have a chance at the top seed in the East but they didn’t play like they wanted it in Monday’s loss to Oklahoma City. The Hawks have won 14 of their past 17 and can make the race for the No. 2 spot in the conference a little more interesting with a victory.
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SCHEDULING
The Hawks finish off a three-game road trip against the Raptors in advance of a four-game homestand that the team hopes will improve its position in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Unlike last season when the Hawks left little doubt that they were playoff bound en route to a 60-win regular season and top seed in the East, this season they are scrambling but have been playing their best basketball lately. Atlanta has all but clinched a playoff berth however resting players may not be an option because playoff seeding is very much up for grabs.
With a chance Monday to set the franchise record for wins in a season, the Raptors were smoked by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 50-win plateau is there for the taking, but it won’t come easy with the next six games against teams with a winning record. Toronto and Atlanta play twice in eight days to complete the season series, which the Raptors own with a pair of cover wins earlier. Toronto posted a 104-96 victory when the teams met in the ACC on Mar. 10.
INJURIES
Paul Millsap left Saturday’s game with a laceration above his eye that required 10 stitches. He was back in the lineup when the Hawks visited Chicago on Monday.
Raptors’ forward Terrence Ross has missed three straight games with a thumb injury and is questionable to play Wednesday night. His absence will again test Toronto’s depth on the wing while DeMarre Carroll remains out.
KEY MATCHUP
DeMar DeRozan has had some fine moments with the Raptors since being drafted in 2009 and many have come this season. Earlier this month, Toronto’s All-Star had a stretch where he scored at least 30 points in four of six games, which included a 30-point effort in a win over the Hawks on Mar. 10. He’s not a prolific three-point shooter so most of his points come on mid-range jumpers and takes to the hoop. DeRozan also gets to the free throw line more than any other Raptor and makes the most of his opportunities by knocking down 84.5 percent from the stripe. When he’s not piling up the points, DeRozan is making excellent passes, primarily to set up three-point shots from backcourt mate Kyle Lowry.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Hawks will take a different approach to end of the schedule and playoffs this season than they did last. Atlanta cruised into the postseason with the East’s top seed and 60 wins last year, but the move to rest players down the stretch may have had a crippling effect on the team. The Hawks lost their final three regular season games, and though they did advance to the conference finals, they were swept after struggling to get past Brooklyn and Washington. Not the case this season, mainly because the Hawks don’t have the luxury as they continue to battle for playoff positioning. With the No. 2 seed in the conference seemingly out of reach a few weeks back, the Hawks are making things interesting trying to chase down the Raptors.
Atlanta 104, Toronto 101
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors will tipoff Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Air Canada Centre. You can watch the game live on NBA TV.
