The Los Angeles Clippers head to the state of Georgia to battle the Atlanta Hawks on Friday Night. It's time to continue our NBA odd series with a Clippers-Hawks prediction and pick.
This will be the second and final matchup between the two teams, as both are fighting to stay alive in their respective playoff hunts. Both have experienced similar struggles this season, despite both teams having NBA Finals aspirations. The Clippers won the first matchup 106-93 on January 9th and will be looking to sweep the Hawks for the first time since 2018. The Clippers currently hold the eighth seed in the Western Conference and are looking to build momentum to avoid the play-in round. Atlanta currently is 10th in the Eastern Conference, which puts them in the play-in round if the playoffs were to begin today.
The Clippers are coming off a 115-109 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, which snapped a two-game losing streak. Reggie Jackson led them in scoring with 31 points on 12 for 21 shooting, and also distributed the rock, with seven assists to his credit. Marcus Morris also contributed 27 points, with eight rebounds and four assists. Luke Kennard provided secondary scoring, chipping in 19 points. The Clippers have gone 7-3 over their last ten games to pull themselves above the 500 mark.
The Hawks have struggled to get over the 500 mark this season. They are 31-34 and have put up a mediocre 5-5 mark over their last ten games. Their most recent disappointment was at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo torched them for 43 points, while nailing down 12 rebounds. It was the second loss in a row for the Hawks, both of which were under the 10-point margin. The game was so bad that coach Nate McMillan earned an ejection from the game with just over a minute left to go in the game. They host the Clippers, looking to rebound.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Clippers-Hawks NBA odds:
NBA Odds: Clippers-Hawks Odds
Los Angeles Clippers: +6.5 (-110)
Atlanta Hawks: -6.5 (-110)
Over: 226.5 (-110)
Under: 226.5 (-110)
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Why The Clippers Could Cover The Spread
The Clippers have amazingly persevered this season, despite probably the most injuries in the league. They have missed Paul George, out with a UCL sprain since Christmas Day. The Clippers are hoping to get him back for the playoffs, as players typically need 13 weeks to recover from that injury.
Kawhi Leonard has not played a game this season as he has been recovering from an ACL injury. His status for this season is unclear, but the Clippers still hope he will be available for the playoffs.
Despite all this, the Clippers are 35-33 and getting contributions from all over the floor. Jackson not only led them in scoring the other night but has also been a solid distributor, collecting 4.8 assists per game. The Clippers have received scoring bursts from Amir Coffey, who put up 21 points and five rebounds in their win over the Hawks. Morris has also been essential often, as he put up 15 points in that same game. Norman Powell has been huge for the Clippers, generating 21.0 points per game.
The Clippers have also shown grittiness to survive, despite playing a majority without their big two. The key to covering the spread, and beating the Hawks is to stop Trae Young. In their battle in Los Angeles, Young only mustered 19 points with a paltry 8 for 21 shooting. He also had a sore 1 for 6 shooting from beyond the arc. If the Clippers can restrain Young, they can cover the spread and do some damage.
Why The Hawks Could Cover the Spread
It all starts with Young. When he is on his game, he is one of the best players in the NBA. With the Hawks floundering in the last playoff spot, it is time for Young to take ownership, and drive his team to the playoffs.
Young has generated at least 31 points in three of the past six games. On the season, Young has averaged 27.8 points per game. But Young will need help from his fellow starters. Danilo Gallinari, Clint Capela, and Onyeka Okongwu have to produce to relieve some of the pressure off Young. Capela currently leads the team in rebounding, putting up 12.0 boards per game. Young has been their distribution king, giving off 9.4 assists per game.
It also helps that the Hawks are at home, where they have gone 19-13 on the season. This should help them as they try and fight through the struggles, and end a two-game losing streak. The key for the Hawks is to win their battles over the court and hit their shots. In their recent match with the Clippers, they shot just 26.9 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing the Clippers to hit 36.4 percent of their threes.
Final Clippers-Hawks Prediction & Pick
The Clippers and Hawks have undergone similar struggles, but I am going to use recent history to make my call. The Hawks play much better at home but have barely covered the spread against the Clippers over the last two home games. The Clippers play well here, and that line is too steep for me to give the Hawks the spread.
Final Clippers-Hawks Prediction & Pick: Clippers +6.5 (-110)
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