NBA Best Bet for Monday: Trust the Healthy Raptors

NBA Best Bet for Monday: Trust the Healthy Raptors

The NBA returns on Monday night, and I found the perfect play to kick off our week. The Toronto Raptors will travel south to take on the red-hot Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks have been on a long winning streak since a come-from-behind victory on MLK day when they beat the defending champions in the Milwaukee Bucks.

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Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Prediction

The Hawks will be looking to get back to the .500 mark tonight with a win over the Raptors. The Raptors are coming off an impressive overtime win over the number one seeded Miami Heat. This is a Raptors team that is finally back to being fully healthy, which is difficult this season due to injuries and covid protocols. The headline of this game is the status of star guard Trae Young. Young has been on a tear during this win streak, but tonight, this line suggests that Trae may not be a go in this game. The Hawks may need some other guys to step up in this game tonight if Young can not go, and the Raptors, on the flip side, will look to possibly take advantage of that in this game. The line is currently -1 in favor of the Raptors.

I will be backing the Toronto Raptors on the money line tonight. This line opened at -2 in favor of the Hawks when it looked like Young was going to play, and now that Young's status is questionable, the line has flipped over to the Raptors. I think even if he goes, this is a solid spot to fade the Hawks.

They are due for some regression, having won seven games in a row. In my opinion, the Raptors are one of the more underrated teams in all of the NBA, as they present a ton of difficult matchups across the board. This Hawks team, while playing well, remains one of the worst defenses in all of the NBA, now taking on one of the best defenses in the NBA in the Toronto Raptors. I think the pace of this game heavily favors the Raptors as they will be able to control tempo throughout this game.

The Raptors are finally fully healthy, having their starting five in the lineup. A guy I want you guys to keep an eye on for tonight's game will be Gary Trent Jr. We were just talking about underrated players. This guy has been the poster child for that this season. Trent has been on a roll as of late, shooting the three-ball and now facing one of the worst defenses in all of the NBA; this could be a breakout spot for a hot shooter. I will trust the line in this game and back the fully healthy Toronto Raptors.

• Pick: Toronto Raptors ML -120 (Bet $120 to win $100)

Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Line Movement