The Atlanta Hawks will try to defy the oddsmakers on Thursday night and grab a victory over the favored Celtics in Boston in Game 6 of their best-of-seven first-round NBA playoff series.
The Hawks trail the series 3-2, but they're coming off an 87-86 home win in Game 5 of the set on Tuesday night. All five of Atlanta's starters managed to score in double digits that game.
The Hawks will look to vanquish their hosts on Thursday, as they are 36-27-3 ATS versus the spread this season, while the Celtics are 34-31-1 ATS. Atlanta is 33-31-2 against the total, while Boston is 29-37 versus the number.
View Atlanta vs Boston Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
Sportsbooks have set the Celtics as 6-point favorites on the Sportsbook line for this contest at Sportsbook. The total was listed at 175, but may be on the move at Sportsbook.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game matches up the No. 17 (Celtics) and the No. 10 (Hawks) teams in the league, according to our current NBA Power Rankings at Odds Shark. A 96-95 result in favor of the Hawks is predicted by handicapping models.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Boston's No. 26-ranked offense, averaging 91.8 PPG, against a Hawks defense that ranks No. 6 at 93.2 PPG. The Celtics field goal percentage has averaged 46% so far, more than the Hawks shooters have achieved on the year, 45.4% per game.
Defensively, the Hawks feature the league's No. 2-rated defense on the road, allowing 92.1 points per game. Boston, meanwhile, comes in at No. 28 in the league in scoring at home.
Last time out for Boston, they were an 87-86 loser as they battled the Hawks on the road. The Celtics covered in the match as a 2-point underdog, while 173 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Celtics got 16 points from Kevin Garnett, but it was Atlanta that prevailed in an 87-86 final on Tuesday at Philips Arena.
Atlanta Hawks Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Boston are 6-4
After playing Boston are 4-6
After a win are 6-4
Boston Celtics Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Atlanta are 8-2
After playing Atlanta are 8-2
After a loss are 8-2
A few Hawks at Celtics trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Atlanta's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Atlanta's last 19 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Atlanta's last 9 games when playing Boston
Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Boston is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta
Boston is 11-3-1 ATS in its last 15 games at home
Next up:
Atlanta home to Boston, Saturday, May 12
Boston at Atlanta, Saturday, May 12
