The Atlanta Hawks (44-39 SU, 38-45 ATS) visit the Cleveland Cavaliers (44-39, 44-36-3) on Friday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in the Eastern Conference’s final play-in game. The Hawks are 8-2 in their last 10 games while the Cavs are 1-4 over their last five. Which team will earn the No. 8 seed in the playoffs and take on the Miami Heat? Find out in our Hawks vs Cavaliers prediction.
- Date/Time: April 15, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- TV Coverage: ESPN
- Sportsbook Hawks vs Cavaliers Odds: Hawks -2 | O/U 223
- Hawks vs Cavaliers Betting Matchup Report
Hawks vs Cavaliers Odds & Analysis
Sportsbook Odds
The Hawks opened as a slight 2-point favorite with the total set at 223 points. The UNDER is 5-1 in Atlanta’s last six games and 4-2 in Cleveland’s last six outings. Atlanta went 3-1 in the season series against Cleveland, winning each of the last three matchups. Coupled with their recent form, that gives the visitors the edge in our Hawks vs Cavaliers prediction.
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- Best Spread-108-112ATL-2.5+2.5CLE
- Best Moneyline-137+117ATLCLE
- Best Total-110-110Over223223Under
Hawks Cruise Past Hornets In First Play-In Game
The Hawks routed the Charlotte Hornets 132-103 in their first play-in game on Wednesday to keep their playoff hopes alive. Trae Young topped the team with 24 points and added 11 assists for a triple-double while five others scored in double digits for Atlanta. LaMelo Ball led all scorers with 26 points but the Hornets couldn’t contain a relentless Hawks offense.
Atlanta has turned up the heat down the stretch, arguably playing its best basketball of the season heading into the play-in tournament. The Hawks are averaging 123.9 points per game over their last 10 outings – up nearly 10 points from their season average of 114.2, which ranked sixth in the NBA.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) is questionable while Lou Williams (back) and John Collins (finger, foot) are out.
Cavaliers Look To Rebound After Loss To Nets
The Cavaliers fell 115-108 to the Brooklyn Nets in their first play-in game on Tuesday. Kyrie Irving (34 points, 12 assists) and Kevin Durant (25 points, 11 assists) each had a double-double to lead the Nets to victory. Darius Garland posted 34 points for the Cavs.
Cleveland is trending in the opposite direction of Atlanta, having lost nine of its last 12 games. The one thing that the Cavaliers will hang their hat on going into this do-or-die matchup is that their defense has been solid this season, ranking fifth in the NBA at just 105.8 points allowed per game. Coming up against a high-scoring Hawks team, the Cavs will need their defense to come through.
Jarrett Allen (finger) is questionable for Friday’s game.
Hawks vs Cavaliers Pick & Insights
Hawks: Keys To Cover
Young has been money for the Hawks of late, averaging 29.4 points and 11.2 assists over his last 10 games. Better yet, he averaged 32.5 points in four meetings against the Cavaliers this season. Couple that with Atlanta’s super-powered offense and the Hawks are in good shape to advance.
Cavaliers: Keys To Cover
Cleveland’s only hope in this game will be to contain Young and the rest of Atlanta’s offense as much as possible. Given that the Hawks have outscored the Cavs by an average score of 125-114 over the last three meetings, that looks unlikely, but it’s their only shot.
Odds Shark’s Computer Hawks vs Cavaliers Prediction: Hawks -2
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- Atlanta is 4-1 SU in the last 5 meetings.
- Atlanta is 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland.
- The OVER is 14-6 in the last 20 meetings.
