Hawks vs. Thunder Betting Line, Pacers vs. Cavs Betting Line, More…
Carrie Stroup here with your Hawks vs. Thunder betting line as well as your Pacers vs. Cavs betting line. Complete previews below.
ATLANTA HAWKS (53-15) at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (38-30)
Sportsbook.ag Line: OKC -1.5 Total: 212.5
The Atlanta Hawks finish off their six-game road trip with a visit to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Friday night.
Atlanta has been absolutely tremendous this year and is 10-4 SU (6-7-1 ATS) since the All-Star break; including winning three of the first five games on this road trip. Each of its past six contests have been against Western Conference opponents and the team has struggled on defense in that time, allowing 101.7 PPG and giving up better than 50% shooting twice. It was a battle of number one teams when the Hawks went to Golden State as 7-point underdogs most recently and barely even competed in a 114-95 loss. They made a meager 35.6% of their shots in the defeat and let the top offense in the league make 44-of-84 attempts (52% FG) in the game.
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The Thunder have also been playing some solid basketball lately, going 6-3 SU (4-5 ATS) in the month of March. They’ve put up 112.3 PPG over that period but have also been Swiss cheese on defense with the opponent getting 109.7 PPG in the same games. Another high-scoring battle ensued when the Celtics visited Oklahoma City on Wednesday in a 122-118 game that the Thunder won as 6.5-point favorites. They withstood Boston making 52.4% of its shots by forcing 20 turnovers and getting to the line 39 times, making 33 (85% FTM).
Atlanta has been a great road team all year with a record of 23-11 SU (21-11-2 ATS) in away contests as it faces an OKC team that is 24-9 SU (19-14 ATS) at home. The Hawks handled the Thunder in the first matchup between these clubs this year, winning 103-93 as a 4-point favorite at home in late January. Atlanta made 48.2% of its field goal attempts and hit all 13 of its free-throws in that victory. It was a different story in the previous three meetings, though, with Oklahoma City winning each time by an average of 6.3 PPG and going 2-1 ATS.
Trends show that the Hawks are 10-3 ATS (77%) after two consecutive Overs this season as the Thunder have gone 15-3 ATS (83%) after scoring 110 points on the year. Quite a few injuries could affect the outcome of this one as SG Kyle Korver (Nose) and PF Mike Scott (Toe) are out for the visitors while PF Serge Ibaka (Knee) and SF Kevin Durant (Foot) will miss the game with C Enes Kanter (Ankle) listed as doubtful for Oklahoma City.
Atlanta’s offense has been impressive on the year as the team is scoring 102.5 PPG (10th in league) behind 46.5% shooting as a team (4th in league). The Hawks’ bread and butter is defense though, and they are giving up 96.8 PPG (4th in league) on 43.5% shooting (6th in league).
PF Paul Millsap (16.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.7 SPG) has been solid over the recent road trip, playing in four of the five games, scoring 17.5 PPG (51% FG) to go with 8.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG and 1.3 BPG. He was a huge factor in the win over OKC this year with 22 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
PG Jeff Teague (16.6 PPG, 7.1 APG, 1.7 SPG) should be well rested after playing fewer than 30 minutes in four of his past five contests, netting single-digits three times. He had a typical performance when he last saw the Thunder with 17 points, nine assists and a steal.
C Al Horford (15.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG) is coming off a rough showing at Golden State, making a putrid 4-of-18 shots with eight points, six rebounds, two steals and a block and had a double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) with three blocks against Oklahoma City.
The Thunder have continued to show impressive performances on the offensive end and rank eighth in the league in points scored (103.1 PPG) while shooting 44.5% as a team (12th-worst in league. Defensively they have given up 100.5 PPG (12th-worst in league) on 43% shooting (2nd in league).
PG Russell Westbrook (27.6 PPG, 8.4 APG, 7.2 RPG, 2.2 SPG) has carried this team on his back recently with six triple-doubles in his past 11 outings, but also has seven or more turnovers in five of his past six games. He went for 22 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in the loss to the Hawks back in January.
C Steven Adams (7.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.3 BPG) will play a much larger role with both Kanter and Ibaka out and has two double-doubles in his last three contests, averaging 14.3 PPG and 10.7 RPG in that time. Adams had nine points and seven rebounds in the one game against Atlanta this season.
SG Dion Waiters (10.8 PPG, 1.1 SPG) has shot an anemic 32% from the field in his past five games, averaging 11.0 PPG over that period. He has seen the Hawks four times already this year with both Oklahoma City and Cleveland but has scored in double-digits just once and had eight points with three steals as a member of the Thunder against them.
INDIANA PACERS (30-37) at CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (44-26)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Cleveland -10.0, Total: 200
The Cavaliers go for their 15th straight home victory when they host the Pacers Friday.
The Pacers went into Chicago on Wednesday and lost 103-86 as 1-point underdogs. Indiana has now lost three straight games and the team has also failed to cover in five of its past six. The Pacers have not scored 100+ points in each of the past three games and they have allowed over 100 points in three of the past four. They’ll need to improve on both ends of the floor very quickly or they could fall out of the playoff picture in the East.
The Cavaliers head into this game after beating the Nets 117-92 as 12-point favorites in Cleveland Wednesday. The Cavs have won five of their past six games SU and have covered in four of their past five. Over the past three seasons, the Pacers are 9-2 SU and 7-4 ATS in this head-to-head series. They have won-and-covered in two straight games against Cleveland this season. Indiana is 39-24 ATS after two or more consecutive Overs in the past three seasons. The team is also 25-14 ATS after three straight games committing 14 or less turnovers over the past two seasons.
Cleveland, meanwhile, is 13-4 ATS in home games off of a home victory over the past two seasons. The Cavaliers are also 31-18 ATS after covering in four or five of their past six games in that time. PG George Hill (Back) is probable for Indiana, but SF Paul George (Leg) is out indefinitely for the team. The Cavaliers will only be without C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) in this game as the big man is out for the season.
The Pacers had seemingly found their stride with a seven game winning streak from Feb. 27 to Mar. 12, but they have since lost three straight games. They’ll need to get things back on track soon because the playoff race in the East has gotten extremely tight recently.
PG George Hill (14.7 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.0 SPG) has been the Pacers’ best player this season. The guard is excellent on both sides of the ball, doing a great job of guarding his opponents and rarely forcing up bad shots with the ball in his hands. He had just 10 points in the loss to Chicago on Wednesday, but he is averaging 18.6 PPG over the past five contests. He’ll need to hold his own against Kyrie Irving Friday.
PF David West (12.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG) is going to need to be at his best in this one. West is averaging just 6.5 PPG over the past two contests and he must start knocking down some jumpers or this team will struggle to win big games. He has played well against Cleveland this season, averaging 15.3 PPG and 8.3 RPG in three meetings with the team. His strength should give Kevin Love a ton of issues inside.
SG Rodney Stuckey (13.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.2 APG) has been hot lately, averaging 20.4 PPG over the past five contests. Stuckey has shot the ball very well from the outside this season (39% 3PT) and that has been a huge addition to his game. He knows how to score from midrange and can also finish around the rim. If Stuckey can get it going against the Cavs then it’ll allow the Pacers’ big men to work with more room in the post.
C Roy Hibbert (10.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.7 BPG) has looked better offensively over the past two games, averaging 14.5 PPG in those contests. He will, however, need to rebound the ball better. He’s averaging just 4.4 RPG over the past five contests and has been liability on the floor at times, which is absurd for a player with his size.
The Cavaliers have been pretty much unbeatable at home and they’ll look to stay that way against the Pacers Friday. SF LeBron James (25.8 PPG, 7.4 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG) is going to need to play like the MVP in this one. The Pacers are weakest at the small forward position and James should be able to put up some impressive numbers. He had just 16 points, seven assists and three boards against the Nets last game and he must be better moving forward.
PG Kyrie Irving (22.0 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.4 SPG) had 12 points, 10 assists and five boards against the Nets. Irving has lit up Indiana this season, averaging 26.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.0 APG and 1.5 BPG in two games versus the team. George Hill has been playing excellent for the Pacers though, and Irving will really need to be focused on Friday. If he is outplayed then the winning streak could be in jeopardy.
Cleveland is also going to need PF Kevin Love (16.7 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.4 APG) to figure things out. The forward is averaging just 9.0 PPG and 8.0 RPG in 30.0 MPG in the past two games he’s played. The Cavaliers brought Love in to provide another consistent source of scoring and rebounding. He will have to find his game moving forward.
C Timofey Mozgov (9.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG) had 17 points in 17 minutes against the Nets. He has been a revelation for Cleveland since the trade and will need to find a way to be effective against Roy Hibbert on Friday. He’s averaging 7.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 2.0 BPG in four games against the Pacers this season.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
