The Hawks and Nets meet for the fourth time this season tonight and all three games so far were decided by two points or fewer. We can expect another close game, especially considering the implications for playoff seeding.
Brooklyn currently sits sixth in the Eastern Conference while the Hawks are eighth. A win for the Nets would go far in ensuring they avoid the play-in, while Atlanta hopes to leapfrog Brooklyn by the end of next week.
Each team won two of its last three games, though the Hawks have an extra day of rest. Let’s take a look at the odds before I jump into my best bet for this pivotal matchup.
Hawks vs. Nets Odds, Spread, and Total
Hawks vs. Nets Prediction and Pick
With how close these teams have played each other, it makes sense the game is a pick-’em. That being said, I think this rematch favors Atlanta and I’m taking the value on the visitors.
Over the last 10 games, the Hawks have the third-best offensive rating (120) in the league while Brooklyn is 13th (117.1). Defense is typically the Nets’ calling card, but they’re 20th in defensive rating (117) over that stretch.
Atlanta is coming off an impressive win over the Cavs and gets that extra day of rest, which I think will prove critical against a Brooklyn squad that failed to cover in each of its last two contests.
Perhaps the biggest advantage for the Hawks, though, comes on the glass. In that 10-game sample, Atlanta leads the NBA in rebounding percentage (53.8%), in large part due to Clint Capella posting at least 16 boards in three of the last five games.
Brooklyn is 26th in rebounding percentage (47.7%) in those last 10 games, and the extra opportunities the Hawks generate as a result will prove to be the difference.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.