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The Philadelphia 76ers will look to bounce back in Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks. It’s time to continue our NBA Playoffs odds series and make a Hawks-76ers prediction and pick.
Atlanta stole the first game of the series against the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Hawks jumped out to a 20-point lead at halftime and although the 76ers clawed their way back in the second half, Atlanta secured a huge four-point victory. Trae Young continues to dominate the postseason and if Philly can't find a way to slow him down, the 76ers may be in trouble.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Hawks-76ers odds.
NBA Odds: Hawks-76ers Odds
Atlanta Hawks +6 (-110)
Philadelphia 76ers -6 (-110)
Over 223.5 Points (-110)
Under 223.5 Points (-110)
Why The Hawks Could Cover The Spread
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The Atlanta Hawks picked up right where they left off in the first game of this second round series. Trae Young has been spectacular during the postseason and didn't skip a beat in the opener. Young delivered a stellar performance with 35 points and 10 assists in Game 1. He delivered 25 points and seven assists in the first half and although the 76ers limited him in the second half, the damage had already been done.
Philadelphia put Ben Simmons on Young for much of the second half, which certainly had an impact on the point guard's success. Assuming he will see a lot of Simmons in Game 2, it'll be interesting to see how Nate McMillan adjusts to the new assignment. Young is without-a-doubt the best player on this team, but the depth that they possess around him is what makes them so good.
Clint Capela, John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter, and Danilo Gallinari continued their success in Game 1 as well. They were clicking on all cylinders from deep in the first round against the Knicks and their lethal outside shooting has carried over into the second round. If Clint Capela and John Collins can find a way to slow Joel Embiid, the Atlanta Hawks are in a great position to knock off the top seed in the east.
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
The Philadelphia 76ers made quick work of the Washington Wizards in the first round, but looked to be a step slow in the opening game of this series against the Hawks. The first half was certainly one to forget for Philly and they better pray that the outstanding performance in the second half is what carries over into Game 2. The 76ers outscored the Hawks in the second half by 16 points and fell just short of completing the comeback.
Joel Embiid was questionable heading into Game 1 and he erased all of the question marks with his stellar play. The MVP-candidate delivered 39 points, nine boards, four assists, a steal, and three blocks in a brilliant all-around outing. A slight meniscus tear isn't going to slow this guy down in a crucial postseason for his club's future.
Embiid got a lot of help in Game 1 from his supporting cast as well. Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Tobias Harris added a combined 61 points in the near-comeback effort. Curry did a great job of stretching the floor with five made three's and if this team can do a better job of defending the perimeter, they were certainly get back on track. It'll be interesting to see how well Ben Simmons defends Trae Young in Game 2.
Final Hawks-76ers Prediction & Pick
This is going to be a very even series throughout and it'll be tough to predict the winner in any of the games going forward. We can all agree that this is almost a must-win game for the 76ers and I expect them to produce on the offensive end. With the way that the Hawks have shot the ball, it's almost guaranteed that they will continue to get theirs on that end as well. Trae Young is virtually unstoppable right now because of the way he is able to generate contact and get foul calls. His efficiencies from the field and the charity stripe open the floor for the rest of his guys and he does a great job of facilitating. In a game that could go either way, expect both teams to produce at an elite level on the offensive side of the ball.
FINAL HAWKS-76ERS PREDICTION PICK: Over 223.5 Points (-110)
