Tip-off: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Line: TBD

Two of the East’s elite teams meet on Friday night when the Toronto Raptors head south to Atlanta and take on the Hawks.

The Raptors have continued to play some solid basketball this year as they stay towards the top of the Eastern Conference and have grabbed victories in nine of their last 11 games SU (5-6 ATS). They’ve played each of their last five games at home, going 3-2 SU and winning the past three by an average of 7.7 PPG against the likes of the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards. Toronto hosted the Wizards as five-point favorites in the final game before the All-Star break and failed to cover the spread in a 95-93 win. The Raptors shot a meager 40.8% in the game but were able to outplay Washington in other areas, making six more three-pointers and committing three fewer turnovers. Atlanta had a phenomenal first half of the season but will be happy to be back home after losing 2-of-3 games on the road before the break. They have also gone a mere 3-4 ATS since January 31st as they scored just 88 points in each of their last two losses. The Hawks took a big upset loss before All-Star weekend when they traveled to Boston as 6.5-point favorites and were edged out in an 89-88 loss. It was a late comeback and last second shot that downed Atlanta in the defeat as they held the Celtics to a putrid 32.3% shooting, but were outrebounded 65-44 while making a mere 7-of-29 threes (24% 3PM) and 15-of-23 free throws (65% FT). Toronto hasn’t had too many issues when traveling and are a solid 15-8 SU (13-9-1 ATS) as they go up against a Hawks group which is an amazing 25-3 SU (18-10 ATS) at home. This will be the fourth and final meeting between these teams this regular season and the Raptors have won two of the first three SU and ATS, but are coming off a big 110-89 loss at home in their last meeting. It was Atlanta’s 11th straight win as it made an incredible 42-of-69 shots (61% FG) and hit 12-of-23 from behind the arc (52% 3PM).

Toronto has been extremely impressive this season with its offense, scoring 105.6 PPG (5th in league) as they are making 45.7% of its shots (9th in league). They have needed to score some points, though, as their defense is allowing 100.7 PPG (9th-worst in league) to their opponents on 45.8% shooting (7th-worst in league). PG Kyle Lowry (18.6 PPG, 7.2 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG) not only earned his first All-Star bid, but started in the game as he comes in averaging just 12.2 PPG (39% FG) and 5.8 APG over the last five games. He was horrible (11 points, five assists) on 5-of-13 shooting against Atlanta the last time they matched up but had double-doubles in the other two games this year. SG DeMar DeRozan (18.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.3 SPG) has really had problems with consistency in his 32 games this season, making a career-low 39% of his attempts, but has been phenomenal at getting to the line in his last three contests with 32 makes on 35 attempts (91% FT). He’s been solid in the three games against this opponent on the year, averaging 22.3 PPG (46% FG), 5.7 RPG and 2.7 SPG. C Jonas Valanciunas (12.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG) has double-digit rebounds in four of his past seven games, but has seen his offensive production drop off with just 8.4 PPG in that time. He put up 14.0 PPG and 7.5 RPG in the two wins over Atlanta this year but was horrible (4 points, 6 rebounds) in the last meeting.

Atlanta has been commonly associated with defense in the past, but it has improved its offense and is netting 103.4 PPG (6th in league) on some impressive shooting (47.1% FG, 3rd in league). They’ve continued to be tremendous on the defensive side of things as well with 96.8 PPG allowed (4th in league) on 43.4 % shooting (4th in league). PG Jeff Teague (17.0 PPG, 7.5 APG, 1.7 SPG) has continued his consistent play with 18.6 PPG and 7.2 APG over the last five games and has had some great numbers (19.0 PPG, 9.7 APG, 2.0 SPG) in three games against Toronto this year. C Al Horford (15.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG) has gotten back to All-Star form behind some great shooting (54% FG) this year as he’s put up three double-doubles in the last five contests. He’s scored at least 20 points in each of the last two games against this opponent and had 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting with five rebounds and five assists most recently. PF Paul Millsap (16.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.8 SPG) is another of the four Atlanta players who was a reserve at the All-Star game this season but was just 7-for-22 with 10.5 PPG in the first two times facing the Raptors before putting together a solid effort (16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks) in their last matchup. SG Kyle Korver (12.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG) is the fourth Hawk to play in this year’s All-Star game as he leads all shooting guards field goal percentage (51%) and the league in three-point percentage (52% 3PM).