Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks Picks and Prediction for Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Use Code SSWC The Toronto Raptors open their 2025-26 season on the road against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET, with coverage on NBA League Pass. Toronto looks to build on a strong preseason and last season’s improved play after the All-Star Break, while Atlanta begins its campaign following an active offseason. Your quick scout — NBA picks for Toronto Raptors vs. Atlanta Hawks, you can act on.
Toronto Raptors Look to Reassert Defensive Identity
The Toronto Raptors enter this matchup coming off a promising preseason that featured four wins in five games. The new season marks a fresh start for a team that finished 30-52 last year but showed real progress over the second half, going 22-21 after New Year’s Day. Toronto’s strength remains on the defensive end, where it climbed from 26th to 2nd in defensive rating post All-Star break last season, the largest jump in the league.
Scottie Barnes returns as the foundation of the team after averaging 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game in 2024-25. The addition of Brandon Ingram gives Toronto a versatile scorer capable of creating offense both inside and from beyond the arc. Ingram hit 37.4% from three-point territory last year with New Orleans, a much-needed boost for a team that ranked 29th in made threes. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett round out a talented group of perimeter players, while Jakob Poeltl anchors the paint. If the Raptors maintain a defense and improve on their shooting, they could quickly establish themselves as a competitive team in the East.
Toronto closed its preseason with a 119-114 win over Brooklyn, showing better ball movement and perimeter scoring. The Raptors averaged 115.4 points per game in five preseason contests, a notable increase from their 110.9 per-game average last season. The defense remained strong, forcing 16.6 turnovers per game during those five games.
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Injuries:
- Collin Murray-Boyles (ankle) is questionable
- Jakob Poeltl (back) questionable
Hawks Aim to Turn Play-In Fatigue into Playoff Momentum
The Atlanta Hawks were 40-42 in 2024-25, which ended in another Play-In Tournament exit. This season, Atlanta looks to take a step forward with a revamped roster that adds size, shooting, and better defense. The headline addition is Kristaps Porziņģis, who joins Trae Young and Jalen Johnson to form a new-look frontcourt-core trio. Young led the league with 11.6 assists per game last year while scoring an average of 25.4 points per contest. Porziņģis, when healthy, is strong off the pick and roll and will give the Hawks plenty of rim protection, which is a key upgrade for a team that ranked 22nd in opponent field-goal percentage.
Atlanta’s defense is better with Dyson Daniels and newcomer Nickeil Alexander-Walker, both of whom excel at creating turnovers and guarding multiple positions. Daniels averaged three steals per game last season, becoming the first player in four decades to hit that mark. Offensively, the Hawks will play fast. The team’s 101.4 possessions per 48 minutes last season ranked among the league’s top five. Atlanta will rely on high-volume three-point shooting. The team shot 40.5% from deep in 2024-25, and the addition of Luke Kennard only strengthens the perimeter game.
The Hawks wrapped up the preseason at 2-2, most recently falling 133-115 to Houston. Despite the loss, Porziņģis and Young combined for 39 points and 11 assists, showing they are working well with each other. If the Hawks maintain pace and stay healthy, they could challenge for a top-six seed instead of another Play-In appearance.
Injuries:
- Dyson Daniels (ankle) is questionable
- Mouhamed Gueye (knee) is questionable
- Jalen Johnson (shoulder) is questionable
Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks Pick
Spread Pick for Raptors vs/ Hawks
- Atlanta Hawks -5.5 (4 Units)
Atlanta’s home-court advantage and roster additions around Trae Young give the Hawks the edge on opening night. The combination of Young’s playmaking, Porziņģis’ shooting and rim protection, and Daniels’ defense should challenge Toronto’s new faces and upgraded roster. The Raptors may need time to integrate Brandon Ingram fully, while the Hawks return most of their key players from a top-10 offensive unit. Expect Atlanta to control the tempo and hit enough perimeter shots to cover the spread.
Over/Under Pick for Raptors vs. Hawks
- Over 235.5 (4 Units)
Both teams enter the season with improved offenses and high-tempo tendencies. Atlanta averaged 118.2 points per game last year, and Toronto’s preseason numbers point toward a faster, more effective offense. The Hawks’ pace combined with the Raptors’ improved scoring should push the totals higher, especially with both teams featuring multiple playmakers.
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