The Brooklyn Nets have won all their last nine games, allowing them to skyrocket into the third spot in the Eastern Conference. Will they claim another victim this Thursday when they meet the Atlanta Hawks? Or will the Hawks be the one to trip up Kevin Durant and company?

Catch this game live on Thursday, December  29, at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Brooklyn Nets (22-12/10-7 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Kyrie Irving
  • SG: Royce O’Neale
  • SF: Kevin Durant
  • PF: Ben Simmons
  • C: Nic Claxton

The Nets can extend their win streak to 10 games if they could hurdle Atlanta this Thursday – again. Brooklyn, which defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 125-117, on the road last Tuesday, beat the Hawks earlier this month at home, 120-116. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were too much for Atlanta in that game. 

Durant dropped 34 points to lead the Nets past Atlanta, while Irving flattened the Hawks’ defense with 33 points. Over the last 10 Nets games, Durant has averaged 30.4 points on an incredible 58.6 FG%, while Irving has put up 28.5 points on 49.7 FG%. What’s even better for the Nets is that TJ Warren is starting to warm up. He just scored 23 points off the bench versus the Cavs.

The Nets are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games overall.

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Home: Atlanta Hawks (17-17/11-6 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Trae Young (questionable)
  • SG: Dejounte Murray
  • SF: De’Andre Hunter  (questionable)
  • PF: John Collins
  • C: Onyeka Okongwu

The top concern for the Hawks right now is the health of Trae Young, who exited Wednesday’s 129-114 road loss to the Indiana Pacers with a calf issue. It is uncertain as of this writing whether Young will be able to give it a go against the Nets at home, but if he ultimately sits out the contest, the Hawks will have to ask for more from Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had 31 points off the bench in the first meeting with Brooklyn. 

Bogdanovic also scored 18 points in the loss to the Pacers. Another injury to monitor in Atlanta is that of big man Clint Capela, who was ruled out of the Indiana game with a right calf strain. One thing that’s encouraging for the Hawks is that both Murray and John Collins will be available this time around, unlike in the previous showdown versus Brooklyn.

The Hawks are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games against the Nets.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Hawks (+5.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (238.5) hits the Over.