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NBA Betting: Atlanta Hawks Season Long Handicapping 10/22/2025 vs. Toronto Raptors

by Spencer Toth - 10/22/2025

NBA betting Atlanta Hawks season long handicapping Gradey Dick Toronto Raptors

All season long, Doc’s Sports will be breaking down every Atlanta Hawks game while providing best bets for each matchup. By utilizing in-depth knowledge of the Hawks' roster and the league as a whole, we will be able to generate a consistent profit throughout the season. Don’t just take my word for it, as this is the fourth season of this column, and I covered the Bucks in 2022-23 and the Knicks in each of the last two seasons. While the focus will always be on the Hawks and their matchups with each of their opponents, we will not always favor the Hawks in our picks. Atlanta is expected to be an exciting team capable of competing in a wide-open Eastern Conference, and there are plenty of fascinating matchups for the Hawks this season. It starts with a visit from the Toronto Raptors to State Farm Arena tonight. 

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Atlanta has finished in the play-in tournament in each of the last four seasons, but has failed to make the playoffs in back-to-back years. Trae Young is undoubtedly one of the best offensive players in the league, but he hasn’t had an All-Star teammate on the roster with him throughout his career. Young has been able to put the Hawks on his back time and time again, but this could be the season where he finally gets the help he needs to make a deep playoff run. The Hawks' front office made the moves they needed to elevate the ceiling of this squad this summer. Kristaps Porzingis is a massive upgrade compared to Clint Capela, as his work on the offensive end will help spread the floor for Young. Capela had his moments in a Hawks uniform, but his inability to score outside of the paint stopped Young from driving as often as he’d like to. Atlanta is now full of shooters with Porzingis in the mix, and will have no problems creating lanes for Young to either drive or pass to create easy buckets. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another incoming shooter, but the more impactful change is the return of Jalen Johnson. Johnson missed the second half of last season, but was the second-best player behind Young before his injury. Johnson does an excellent job of clogging passing lanes on defense, and he can score from all three levels on offense. A starting five of Young, DPOY candidate Dyson Daniels, ROY contender Zaccharie Risacher, Johnson, and Porzingis can compete with any starting unit in the league. A strong bench is icing on the cake, as the Hawks are built to confidently navigate a weak East this season. Their first test is against the Raptors, who have growing title ambitions of their own this season. 

Toronto has been an interesting team to follow in the offseason. They were clearly tanking last year, but brought in the oft-injured Brandon Ingram at the trade deadline. Ingram didn’t make his debut for Toronto last season, and there is suddenly a lot to like about the Raptors this season. Scottie Barnes needs to get even better this year if Toronto expects to make a deep playoff run, as the former ROY has no shortage of talent around him in Toronto. Barnes had a 19/8/6 stat line last season, but his shooting efficiency dipped significantly compared to his previous seasons. He made up for it on the defensive end, and could see his role shift even further with the recent additions. He will be matched up with Jalen Johnson tonight, which will be a fantastic showdown. Johnson and Barnes both have similar playstyles, as they can be counted on for 20 PPG with 100% effort on the defensive end of the court. 

Toronto has depth on its starting five just like Atlanta, as Ingram and Barnes are joined by Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jakob Poeltl on the court. Poeltl showed his value last season as he was able to hold down the fort while the Raptors' injury list grew. Poeltl will take a backseat on offense this season, but will still be needed to set screens and vacuum up rebounds on both ends of the court. Poeltl is a very effective rebounder, and his sneaky second-chance points often get overlooked. Quickley and Barrett have both settled into their new roles in Toronto since being traded for OG Anunoby on the final day of 2023. 

The Raptors already have injury problems this season, as Ja’Kobe Walter and 9th overall pick Colin Murray-Boyles will both miss tonight’s game. Both are members of the bench unit, and while Toronto has plenty of depth, they will still be missed as the team gets ready for its first game of the season. 

Toronto and Atlanta are two sides with similar aspirations this season. Both have been average teams in the Eastern Conference for the last few years, which will be expected to take advantage of a wide-open conference. Injuries and trades have left the East barren compared to the West, and these two will see an opportunity to take the next step in the quest for NBA silverware. 

Toronto is a five and a half point underdog tonight in Atlanta, and that spread is just a tad too wide for the season opener. The first bet of the night will be taking the points with Toronto as a result. There is a lot to like about the Hawks this season, but their lack of continuity from last year could see them get off to a slow start. The Raptors are running it back with a very similar lineup, except they are now healthy for this season. This will allow Toronto to start off on the right foot, and taking a bit of insurance on the spread is the way to go. If this matchup were in a few weeks, it might be a different story, but I like the Raptors to hang around in the season opener. 

The second bet of the night will be Under 27.5 Points+Rebounds+Assists for RJ Barrett. Barrett is a volume shooter who needs to see plenty of the ball to be effective. However, Ingram will also demand lots of the ball, while Quickley and Barnes will be the primary ball handlers coming up the court. Barrett will have his fair share of opportunities, but this line is a bit high unless he has the same volume as last season. Taking any unders in Hawks games can be daunting considering their pace of play last season, but this is a different Hawks side. I expect a better defensive effort from Atlanta and for Barrett to struggle to match his totals from last season with fewer shot attempts. 

Finally, we will also be sprinkling on Gradey Dick to have a good night on the offensive end. Dick averaged 14.4 PPG last season, and I expect him to be the first man off the bench for the Raptors. Dick is a lethal three-point shooter who can also drive into the paint effectively, and he is poised for a big night. His points prop is at just 7.5, which is a bit low considering what he did last season. The Raptors need Dick to develop into a strong sixth man, and he will get his opportunities to shine tonight. We will be taking that over, and also placing one unit on 10+ points at solid +145 odds.

Pick: Toronto Raptors (+5.5) -110 2 Units

Pick: RJ Barrett Under 27.5 Points+Rebounds+Assists -110 3 Units

Pick: Gradey Dick Over 7.5 Points -125 1 Unit

Pick: Gradey Dick 10+ Points +145 1 Unit

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