Hawks vs Clippers: Spread and Score Predictions
The Hawks are going to be big underdogs tonight when they go on the road to face the Los Angeles Clippers. Atlanta is in the midst of their five-game road trip and it has not started off well for them. The Hawks lost to Portland on Wednesday and then Utah on Friday. The Clippers are 5-5 in their last ten games and are not exactly playing well right now, but the Hawks are still short-handed because of injuries and even if James Harden and Norman Powell don't play, they will be healthier than the Hawks.
Coming into this game, Atlanta ranks 5th in PPG, 23rd in field goal percentage, 7th in three-point attempts, 17th in three-point percentage, 5th in free throw attempts, 1st in offensive rebounding, and 14th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks are 9th in points per 100 possessions, 19th in effective field goal percentage, 9th in turnover percentage, 5th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 8th in free throw rate.
The Clippers defense could pose problems for the Hawks. George and Leonard are two excellent defenders and will spend time guarding the Hawks's two biggest offensive threats, Murray and Johnson. Los Angeles is 12th in PPG allowed, 10th in field goal percentage, and 13th in three-point percentage. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Clippers are 14th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 8th in effective field goal percentage allowed.
Leonard had a big game the last time these two teams played, scoring 36 points on 13-20 shooting. Harden had a near triple-double and the Clippers got 48 points from their bench.
The Clippers are 11th in PPG, 6th in field goal percentage, 17th in three-point attempts, 2nd in three-point percentage, 13th in free throw attempts, 22nd in offensive rebounding, and 10th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Clippers are 4th in points per 100 possessions, 6th in effective field goal percentage, 11th in turnover percentage, 19th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 6th in free throw rate.
Mar 15, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) drives against Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) during the second quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Viewing and Betting Information
Tip-off time: 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to Watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Southeast, NBA TV
Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks will be underdogs on the road tonight, as they are currently 9.5 point underdogs according to the latest odds from the SI Sportsbook and the over/under is set at 220.5.
Even if the Clippers are missing both Harden and Powell, I think the Clippers are just a much better team than Atlanta. Leonard and George will be able to take advantage of the Hawks' poor defense and the Clipper's defense will stop Murray, Johnson, and the rest of the Hawks's offense. If Harden does play and the Clippers don't take this game lightly, I have a hard time seeing the Hawks keeping this game close.
Final Score: Clippers 127, Hawks 113
