After an offensive explosion on Friday night with the Dallas Mavericks, the Atlanta Hawks will turn their attention to the Toronto Raptors for a Sunday match up. Although their are still ten games until the All-Star Break, these upcoming games will be crucial for the Hawks and how their season ultimately goes.
They sit at 18-27 this season but there is still hope for a spot in the Play-In Tournament. Currently, they are tenth in the East, the cutoff for the final spot in the tournament. The Brooklyn Nets are only half a game behind the Hawks for that last spot.
Why the game is important
With the Hawks hanging on to that last spot as the playoffs get closer, it is crucial that they win games against teams that are behind them in the standings, like the Raptors. In the two meetings that the teams have had this season, they have split. In those games, Hawks guard Trae Young has averaged 36.5 points and 13.5 assists per game. Clint Capela has also averaged a double-double in the two match ups as well: 17 points with 10 rebounds on December 13, and18 points and 15 rebounds on December 15.
Since those match ups, Pascal Siakam, arguably the Raptors best player to start the season has been traded to the Indiana Pacers. Siakam was a key contributor in both contests against the Hawks this season. He averaged 24 points per game in those games.
Game analysis
The Hawks will need to put there foot on the gas for this game. Start early and often with scoring opportunities. All season the Raptors have struggled against teams that have been good beyond the three-point line. If the Hawks allow the Raptors to hang around, then they could lose late. Keep the ball in Trae Young’s hands and just let him cook against this depleted Raptors team.
The Raptors could also be without big men Jokob Poeltl and Jontay Porter, so look for Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson to have big games for the Hawks on Sunday.