ATLANTA HAWKS @ TORONTO RAPTORS
Basketball : North America : NBA
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, 7:00PM US
(12:00AM GMT)

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PREVIEW

Atlanta come to Canada off a 22 point win, beating New Orleans on Sunday. That gives the Hawks a 3-1 mark on this 5 game road-trip, which ends tonight against the Raptors, whom they have beaten the last 5 times they've met. Looks fairly straightforward.

Atlanta have already faced Toronto this season, besting them down in Georgia by a 93-84 score. That was 2 weeks ago. Atlanta are now 15-6 for the season, including 7-5 away from home, while Toronto are struggling with a 7-14 mark, and a poor 2-5 record in front of their own fans.

Torontos trouble stem from their inability to put up points; they are scoring just 87.5 per game. Even at home, they fail to average 90 points. Toronto are off a big win, just like their opponents, as the Raptors thumped the New Jersey Nets by 21 points, also on Sunday.

While the team may have managed against the lowly Nets without center Andrea Bargnani, they will struggle here. It does not help that the Raptors will also be without Leandro Barbosa, who provided much of the scoring for them the last time they faced Atlanta.

BETTING VERDICT

The spread is set at 5 and as i can see Atlanta winning by about 7 or 8, I'll recommend the visitors tonight.

The Pick :

Atlanta Hawks

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Atlanta Hawks -5 @ 1.95 (Pinnacle)